Share

Frenchman David Lappartient new UCI president

Bergen - Frenchman David Lappartient will succeed Briton Brian Cookson as UCI president after winning a landslide election on Thursday in Bergen.

Outgoing president Cookson garnered only eight of the 45 votes during the world cycling governing body's Congress, becoming the first UCI president to fail to earn a second term. 

It proved a remarkably one-sided vote in an election campaign many had believed would be a tight-run affair. 

But in earning 37 votes, Lappartient, the incumbent European Cycling Federation president and until March the French federation president too, took a clear victory. 

He had vowed in his final speech to the congress to tackle doping and technological fraud while Cookson had pledged increased investment in the continental associations and to further develop women's cycling. 

Lappartient, who said he was "deeply honoured" by his election, becomes the 11th president of the UCI since its creation in 1900. 

He was French federation president from 2009 until March and has been European federation president since 2013, a position he will now leave to take on his new role. 

The 44-year-old is also mayor of a small town in Brittany. 

Cookson, 66, had beaten Ireland's Pat McQuaid in a bitter and farcical election four years ago.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1839 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1807 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 468 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 258 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE