Brian Cookson ousted from UCI presidency as David Lappartient wins vote

David Lappartient has ousted Brian Cookson from the presidency of the UCI after winning today's election at the UCI World Congress in Bergen, Norway by a convincing 37 votes to eight.

A UCI vice-president and president since 2013 of the European Cycling Federation, the UEC, Lappartient is also a former president of the French Cycling Federation and was a key supporter of Cookson during the Briton's run for office in 2013.

During his election campaign, he said that Cookson, who succeeded Ireland's Pat McQuaid as UCI president, lacked the vision to take the sport forward and also said more must be done to combat technological fraud.

The delegates who voted comprised 15 from Europe, nine each from Africa, the Americas and Asia, plus three from Oceania.

Following his election, Lappartient said: “I am deeply honoured to give my first presidential speech to you today,” Lappartinent said.

“I am very grateful for your support. I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“It is a great responsibility and over the next four years of my presidency I want to prove myself worthy of such trust and deliver my commitments to you.

“I am delighted to see that my electors have come from all continents and that the projects I have offered you, offer greater hope for the future," he added.

Cookson had promised widespread reform of the sport when he was elected in the wake of the US Postal Service scandal which saw McQuaid and his predecessor, Hein Verbruggen, accused of conspiring to cover up Lance Armstrong's doping.

However, over the past year and a half, Cookson himself faced criticism following allegations of bullying and discrimination at British Cycling, where he served as president until his election to the same office at the UCI four years ago.