(CNN) -- British cycling chief Brian Cookson announced Tuesday he would challenge Irishman Pat McQuaid for the top job at the UCI -- promising to clean up the sport in the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal. Cookson, 61, told CNN that he was standing for election as president of the world governing body because he was unhappy with its failure to deal with the issues raised since Armstrong made his public admission of guilt last year. "We are still mired in controversy from the Lance Armstrong era," said Cookson. "We need to clean that up and deal with historic accusations."
@highlight
Battle ahead for top job in world cycling
@highlight
Brian Cookson will oppose Pat McQuaid for UCI presidency
@highlight
Cookson promises to clean up the sport and great transparency
@highlight
McQuaid has been criticized for his handling of Lance Armstrong affair
Brian Cookson
Cookson
Cookson
Brian Cookson
Cookson
@placeholder has been credited with turning around the fortunes of the British federation, which he rescued from the brink of bankruptcy in the 1990s.
UCI
UCI
"I believe there is a massive appetite for change from people out there who are dissatisfied with the way the international cycling union (@placeholder) is running the sport."
Pat McQuaid
Pat McQuaid
McQuaid
"I've supported @placeholder in the past, but I haven't undermined him and now we are in an election period you need to stand up and be counted."
Pat McQuaid
Pat McQuaid
McQuaid
In a statement released at the time, @placeholder said he stood by his record: "I put myself forward to serve another term as UCI president on my record of developing the sport throughout the world and on combating the scourge of doping in cycling," he said.