McQuaid rival courts Aussie support Uphill battle: Pat McQuaid pictured with Alberto Contador. Cycling Australia will decide whether to back Irishman Pat McQuaid for re-election as president of the world body this weekend after his one rival for the top job, Englishman Brian Cookson, addresses its board in a bid to secure its support and vote. According to CA president Klaus Mueller, Cookson asked to address the Australian body's 11-strong board at its scheduled meeting at CA's Sydney office in Mascot on Saturday and Sunday. The fight for the presidency of the Union Cycliste Internationale will be decided when the UCI Congress votes on it during the world road titles at Florence late next month. There is a belief McQuaid should already have left the presidency over the UCI's handling of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal. The Irish clubs have already voted not to support his nomination. Critical: Klaus Mueller believes the vote will be close to re-elect Pat McQuaid. McQuaid has also been seeking nomination through the Swiss, Moroccan and Thai federations as a member - although on Wednesday, it was reported the Swiss had withdrawn their support. Cookson, the British Cycling president and a UCI management committee member, is less well known than McQuaid outside Britain. And some suspect that may go against him. But Mueller believes it will still be a close fight, and that the votes of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji that represent Oceania could prove critical. Bike New Zealand chairman Richard Leggat will attend the meeting, and Fiji Cycling president Dominic Sansom may watch by Skype to determine their positions. Of the 42 votes, Europe has the most with 14, while Asia and America have nine each, Africa seven and Oceania three. I don't quite know how the voting is looking, but I assume that every vote is going to be critical and this may well be a very close election. Therefore Oceania's position could be critical," Mueller said. Earlier this year, he led CA's move to not nominate Mike Turtur, regarded as an ally of McQuaid, for re-election as Oceania president, but to back Tracey Gaudry who now holds the position. "I have some pretty strong views about it," was all Mueller would say on the UCI presidency vote. We'll discuss this issue. The board will come to a decision on it. Mueller said he was not worried about the ramifications for CA should it end up backing someone who did not win the vote. "I would genuinely hope that with regard to whoever we back that it does not adversely impact on CA in any way," he said. We are not seeking to back one candidate or another to achieve some advantage or gain for cycling in Australia. The view we ought to take is to endorse the best candidate [who] will be able to restore the integrity of the sport which has taken such a battering the last period. Mueller said McQuaid was offered the same opportunity as Cookson to address the CA board: "But he indicated that because he is running the organisation he wouldn't be able to take up the offer." Mueller said he had still spoken to McQuaid. All Mueller would say about their conversation was: "We both would have regarded it as something I can take to my board, but it wasn't really something for publication at this stage." Twitter - @rupertguinness