Jim Burns, Irish teacher in South Africa, circa 1976 (left) and today (right)

Jim Burns (pictured above in) is South African. Background: Very little is known about Jim Burns except that he is South African and had a very short professional career, in fact he did only one race and it was in 1976 – the Toer Rapport in South Africa. There were absolutely no foreign riders present, only South African ones. People from South Africa. People like Jim Burns. Who is definitely South African. In 1976 Apartheid was in full force and the international community (which included Pat McQuaid’s home country of Ireland) forbade their countrymen – as a form of protest – from attending South African sporting events.

This was no problem for Jim Burns, however, because he was South African. He wasn’t Irish at all so he could (and did) ride any race in South Africa that he wanted. Little is known about what happened to Jim Burns after the Toer Rapport (or before, for that matter). In fact, it is as if he never existed at all, until now that is. Had Jim Burns actually been Irish (and not South African) he would have been banned by the Irish Cycling Federation for life from attending the Olympics. Jim Burns is South African though, he isn’t Irish. He also isn’t Swiss, either.

A young Patrick McQuaid, circa 1976 (left) and today as President of the UCI (right)

Meanwhile Patrick McQuaid (pictured above), the current UCI president, is having troubles of his own. Despite being put forward for renomination by the Irish federation on April 12th, A few weeks later they decided to have an EGM (extraordinary general meeting) to re-discuss the decision, which hasn’t yet happened. In the meantime however McQuaid decided to take out a Swiss license and has now subsequently been nominated by that federation as well, which is a contravention of the UCI’s rules. The UCI however, insists that it isn’t. Cycling fans can now rest easy, knowing that if Pat McQuaid isn’t able to secure a nomination then Jim Burns will be there to replace him.