David Millarīs attempt to take on Gianni Bugno for the presidency of the CPA riderīs association may have ended in defeat, but Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) believes the furor over the voting process may have the collateral effect of leading to greater engagement between professional riders and their representative union. Bugno was elected president for a third consecutive term during the UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck amid vocal calls from the likes of Team Sky`s Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome for a reform of the current voting system in which some rider unions - those of France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and North America - vote en bloc, while individual riders from other nations can only vote in person on the day of the election. The Belgian and Dutch ridersī associations withdrew from the CPA earlier this year. In the aftermath of the vote, Gilbertīs name was quietly mentioned as a possible future president of the CPA, whose next elections are scheduled for 2021 or if Bugno offers to step down. Speaking to Cyclingnews at the Tour of Guangxi in China, Gilbert neither confirmed nor denied his interest in running for the role of CPA president, but he stressed the importance of professional riders forming a strong and united representative body. Gilbert has often defended rider interests, this week taking to social media. `I heard that also, that some people would like me to do this,` Gilbert told Cyclingnews.ADVERTISEMENT `Itīs almost 10 years that Iīve been helping out, being the link between the riders and the CPA. And I was also back then on the [UCI] Athletes Commission. I did a lot. And the only thing you can say is that only now some riders are waking up and realising that we have a voice. `Itīs just too bad that they realised it so late, because if we get united we can be a powerful part of cycling. If the riders are united, we can make things change. Itīs the only way.` Although Millar lost to Bugno by 379 votes to ...
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