The sheer scale of Brian Cookson's defeat this morning in the election for the UCI presidency will be seen as a complete rejection of his record in office. Frenchman David Lappartient has just become the new UCI president.
David Lappartient beats Brian Cookson in UCI president vote
Four years after beating Pat McQuaid in an election for the UCI presidency, Brian Cookson has suffered an embarrassing defeat and is out of the job.
He has lost out to Frenchman David Lappartient. With 45 delegates having a vote at the UCI election in Bergen at the World Championships, the result was 37-8.
It means Cookson is the first ever president of cycling's world governing body to serve only one term.
When he went up against McQuaid in Florence four years ago, the voting went 24-18 in Cookson's favour.
Lappartient, until this morning’s election, was UCI vice president and is president of the European Cycling Union.
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Cookson’s election four years ago was seen as something of a referendum on Pat McQuaid’s term, which was hit hard by Lance Armstrong’s downfall.
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However, almost immediately Cookson took office he faced criticism from many in cycling that he was something of an invisible president and had made very little impact.
Pat McQuaid had in several media interviews, including with stickybottle, made it clear he believed Cookson should be replaced.
He told stickybottle while he had sent a small number of emails to delegates with a vote today, encouraging them to vote for Lappartient, he had not done so as part of any deal.
When contacted by stickybottle, McQuaid said the idea he had done a deal with Lappartient was “rubbish”.
He added he had been critical of the Cookson presidency in the past, including in media interviews.
But he said the suggestion he had been promised an honorary presidents position, or any job, in exchange for contacting people on Lappartient’s behalf was without foundation.
“I sent the email to try and encourage people to change president because I think the UCI needs a change,” he said.
“But I’ve had no assurances from David. He doesn’t need me to win the election. David can do that on his own. He is well capable of that.”
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