The Australian Commonwealth Games bronze medal-winning cyclist Chloe Hosking is preparing to make a formal apology to Pat McQuaid, the president of the sport's international governing body, for calling him "a bit of a dick".
The 21-year-old has been criticised by Cycling Australia and is expected to retract her words while defending the point she was making – that the Union Cycliste Internationale does not adequately support women riders.
In Monday's statement Hosking said: "I have to apologise for how I phrased my comments, I wasn't that eloquent."
She had called McQuaid "a dick" because of his comments last year that women professionals did not merit a minimum salary. More than 50% of female professionals are not paid by their teams.
"Women's cycling every year is getting stronger and stronger," Hosking said. "It needs to get more recognition and I'm not going to apologise for what I said, but I do apologise for how I said it."
Cycling Australia said on Sunday that it would "be seeking an explanation from Chloe before making any decision regarding disciplinary action".
"All our members have the right to express views contrary to those of the UCI, but it is not acceptable for any member of Cycling Australia to personally denigrate others.
"Name-calling does nothing to enhance the reputation of professional women's cycling. Under the Cycling Australia code of conduct and UCI regulations, Chloe is afforded the right to be treated with respect by her fellow riders, administrators and officials of the sport. Therefore she should afford the same rights to them."
McQuaid has said he does not wish to respond to the criticism and there has been no official statement from the UCI.
