The International Cycling Union's top officials will boycott Tuesday's opening ceremony at the World Road Race Championships in Spain. The UCI said it had agreed to leave host city Madrid, "deeply indignant" at the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC), and would instead meet in Geneva.
Tempers have flared ahead of the UCI presidential elections on Friday.
The RFEC has sought to prevent current UCI boss Hein Verbruggen from presiding over elections this week.
"The outrageous behaviour of the RFEC is inexplicable and incomprehensible," said the Swiss-based UCI in a statement.
"From its attitude, this national federation has made it completely clear that its only aim is to destabilise the UCI on the eve of its annual congress."
The deepening power struggle centres on a difference in opinion about Verbruggen.
The RFEC took legal action aimed at preventing him from presiding over the congress, arguing that he should not continue to serve as president because of "manipulation of the electoral process".
But the UCI said that, with the exception of one member, the committee had expressed full solidarity with Verbruggen, who is 64.
MMIX
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