French rival defeats UCI boss Cookson

Brian Cookson’s hopes of serving a second term as president of cycling’s world body ended in a heavy defeat as he was beaten 37 votes to eight by French rival David Lappartient.

The former British Cycling president has run the International Cycling Union (UCI) since 2013 and wanted another four-year spell in charge before retiring at 70.

Thevote is a reflection of what many observers have described as a lacklustre campaign and the damage done to Cookson’s reputation by the negative headlines that have dogged British Cycling, the organisation he ran from 1997 to 2013.

Lappartient, the president of the European Cycling Union, must now deliver on the wide but often vague promises he made during an acrimonious campaign.

While Cookson’s appeal was based on steady progress and his attempts to restore the UCI’S relations with key partners, such as the World Antidoping Agency, Lappartient promised a lot more, a lot sooner. He also benefited from Cookson’s difficulties at home, as allegations of bullying and discrimination at British Cycling while he was still in charge were aired in the British media and parliament.