Much has already been said about the ties between UEFA and Gazprom or the good relations between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Vladimir Putin. What about cycling? There, too, there are smelly jars that have been covered for a long time. “Since David Lapartient has been president of the UCI, the sponsorship of the Russian Makarov has increased fivefold,” David Naert told De Tribune.
The Kingmaker and his plots at the UCI
Since bombs have been dropped on Ukraine, the sports world has also been shaken to its foundations. Sponsorship contracts with Russian companies, influence of Russian administrators and the participation of Russian (and Belarusian) athletes are under discussion in almost all sports.
In cycling, the International Cycling Union (UCI) suspended all professional cycling teams and the national teams of Russia and Belarus.
A clear signal at first sight, but not far-reaching for those who delve more into the backroom politics of cycling. That is exactly what Sporza journalist David Naert did for our podcast De Tribune. He said he was devastated.
In 2013, Pat McQuaid was voted out of the UCI and Brian Cookson became chairman. Nobody expected that.
“UCI president David Lappartient has been helped by Russia. First at the European Cycling Federation and for several years at the UCI, where he maintains contacts with people of dubious character from Turkmenistan, among others.”
That man from Turkmenistan is Igor Makarov (pictured). His nickname in the cycling world is telling: “The Kingmaker”.
“It is Makarov who plotted against UCI president Pat McQuaid in 2013, which resulted in McQuaid being voted out and Brian Cookson become chairman. Nobody expected Cookson to succeed McQuaid then.”
“Makarov has done that again with Lappartient, after which Makarov’s sponsorship contribution to the UCI has increased fivefold.”
Ties to the Kremlin
Chances are you haven’t heard of Igor Makarov yet. However, he is a big name behind the scenes of international cycling.
Makarov was born in Turkmenistan and made his fortune with… oil and gas. His net worth is estimated at around $2 billion. In addition to natural resources, Makarov also has a preference for cycling. In his younger years he was a member of the national team of the Soviet Union.
He was chairman of the Russian Cycling Federation between 2010 and 2016, is still honorary chairman there, was one of the founders of the Katyusha cycling team and to this day sits on the board of the UCI and the European Cycling Federation.
“Makarov is an oligarch with a murky collection of companies, who allegedly has close ties to the Kremlin. Then you know that’s actually with President Putin. He was born in Turkmenistan, but calls himself a Russian.”
Makarov arranged for the European Championship track cycling to be organized in Minsk while protests against the dictatorial president were taking place there.
“It was Makarov who ensured that Turkmenistan was allowed to organize the World Championship track cycling in 2021 (which was ultimately canceled due to the corona pandemic and moved to Roubaix),” says David Naert.
“He also arranged that the European Championship track cycling would take place in Minsk while wide-ranging street protests against the dictatorial president were already underway there.”
“And he, along with David Lappartient, gave the dictator of Turkmenistan an award from the UCI for that dictator’s merit for cycling in Turkmenistan.”
“And the UCI still does not distance itself from Makarov.”
Listen to the entire episode of De Tribune
You can also listen to the podcast in the Sporza app, click on “podcasts” at the top of the navigation.
