UCI President David LaPartient endorsed the CPA as the officially recognized riders' association. This is because the large coalition of World Tour riders continues to push for a one-rider, one-vote system instead of the CPA's national association representation system.

LaPartient also acknowledged rumors of a split in the Riders Association and among the riders. He even described the information sent to the riders as "fake news" and suggested that the attacks on the CPA were "part of a global strategy to destabilize the UCI."

In response to a question from Cycling News, he did not specify by whom.

"It is true that the CPA is being destabilized, but it is part of a global strategy to destabilize the UCI, the governing bodies and other existing organizations," he said at a press conference at the world championships in Imola.

"There are parts of governance in the CPA that probably need to be improved. But there is also a lot of fake news. I saw a document sent to riders by people trying to create a new union. It was clearly fake news, a manipulation to explain something that was not true. And when the riders explained it to them, they understood it. Some riders received the correct information and now know that the situation has improved

A group of World Tour riders claim that they are only trying to create a balance of voting power to unite riders and better protect their rights.

The World Tour riders group includes Chris Froome, Nicolas Roche, Robert Gesink, Matej Mohoric, Yasper Steiven, Sam Bury, Jos van Emden, and Cohen de Court, several leading rider agents, lawyers, and experts have also expressed their support.

Several big-name riders criticized Lapartient's comments when video excerpts of his press conference were posted through the CPA's social media channels.

"We want a "one rider, one vote" system.

According to Cycling News, the riders' group appointed former Yumbo Visma riders Steph Clement and Luke Eisenga as their representatives. Eisenga was managing director of the AIGCP Team Association from 2013 to 2016 and then held various management positions with Team Telecom and Rabobank teams before leaving cycling to work in Dutch soccer.

The group of 300 riders, whose closure of COVID-19 apparently gave the riders time to think about their rights and representation, first emerged in late June; after years of suffering under the control of the UCI, race organizers, and teams, the riders are now looking for ways to improve their professional riders are demanding a stronger voice and influence in how cycling is managed.

Former two-time world champion and 1990 Giro d'Italia winner Gianni Buño will be elected CPA president again in 2018 for a four-year term, and if Buño chooses to remain in that role, the next CPA election will take place in 2022.

The CPA is financed by rider prize money and 2 percent of WorldTour entry fees, and has received significant donations from the UCI over the years; the CPA has a constitution and is registered under Swiss law.

Representation is the biggest frustration for the new riders' association: the CPA is an umbrella organization of national riders' associations, and historically strong countries such as Italy, Spain, and France dominate the CPA thanks to block voting. the CPA has been working to establish a new national association representing minor countries. association, but many riders feel they have not been adequately represented by the CPA.

"We organized a petition based on the idea of one rider, one vote, and 350 riders signed it in the first two days. What they want is one union with balanced voting power," Eisenga told Cycling News.

"The last CPA general meeting was held in Innsbruck in 2018, where a commitment was made that the CPA would consider a one-rider, one-vote system, but no meeting was held in 2019. So far no proposals have been put forward to change the voting system. A step has been taken to allow electronic voting, but block voting will still take place.

"The current system does not allow riders to unite. Unity is needed to address the issues in cycling, and only through a balanced association can riders have a real voice."

Bugno and CPA Executive Director Laura Mora visited Imola on Saturday for a steering group meeting with other key CPA officials. They were critical of the attacks by the Rider Coalition and insisted that they were working on changes in representation.

"We are moving toward a one rider, one vote system. We are making that clear to the riders, but it will take time," Bunyo told Cycling News.

"We need time to ensure a secure voting system that is anonymous, protects the rights of voters, and verifies their identity. I am confident we will get there soon. Of course, we must follow a democratic process and respect the CPA statute."