Pat McQuaid
(05/09/1949)
Patrick “Pat” McQuaid, born on September 5, 1949, in Dublin, Ireland, is a key figure in the world of cycling, known for his contributions both on and off the bike. Raised in a family deeply ingrained in the sport, McQuaid’s father, Jim McQuaid, was a celebrated amateur cyclist, and his uncle also played a significant role in Ireland’s national cycling organisation. Growing up in Ballygall, a northern suburb of Dublin, McQuaid was immersed in cycling from a young age, with all seven of his brothers actively participating in the sport.
Although born into a cycling dynasty, McQuaid’s journey in the sport was far from straightforward. After an early start in junior racing, he chose to pursue a career in teaching, attending Strawberry Hill College in London in the late 1960s to qualify as a physical education and mathematics teacher. Despite this academic path, McQuaid continued to race and train, balancing his dual interests in education and cycling. He later taught at Greenhills College in Walkinstown, continuing his dedication to both education and the sport.
McQuaid’s cycling career gained momentum in the 1970s. In 1974, he won the Irish national road championship, and the following year, he claimed victory in the prestigious amateur Tour of Ireland. Despite these successes, his cycling ambitions faced significant setbacks. In pursuit of an Olympic dream, McQuaid and his brother Keiron, along with other Irish riders, participated in the 1975 Rapport Tour in South Africa under false identities due to the apartheid regime’s exclusion from international competition. When their true identities were discovered, McQuaid was handed a six-month suspension and a lifetime Olympic ban, halting his Olympic aspirations.
After serving his ban, McQuaid continued to race professionally in the UK before transitioning to a career in race management and cycling administration. From 1983 to 1986, he managed the Irish national team, including during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He was also the team manager at the 1985 World Championships, where Paul Kimmage achieved Ireland’s best-ever placing in the amateur race, finishing sixth.
McQuaid’s influence in cycling extended beyond Ireland. He founded the Nissan Tour of Ireland and directed the Grand Depart of the 1998 Tour de France in Dublin. His leadership within the sport reached its pinnacle when he served as the president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) from 2005 to 2013. During his tenure, McQuaid focused on professionalising the sport, enhancing anti-doping measures, and expanding cycling’s global reach. However, his presidency was not without controversy, as he and his predecessor, Hein Verbruggen, faced accusations of covering up doping scandals. McQuaid and Verbruggen pursued defamation lawsuits against those who leveled these charges, including Irish journalist and former cyclist Paul Kimmage.
Despite the challenges and controversies, McQuaid’s legacy in cycling endures. After leaving the UCI, he settled in the south of France, where he now runs a holiday accommodation business. Although he has stepped away from the forefront of cycling administration, his impact on the sport continues to influence the cycling community, inspiring future generations of cyclists.
