Former French Cycling Federation president David Lappartient has confirmed that he will challenge Brian Cookson in a bid for president of UCI.
Lappartient’s move has been widely anticipated for a number of months, while Cookson early-on announced his plans to seek another term during this year’s UCI World Congress, which was held in Bergen, Norway.
Lappartient became a vice-president of the UCI in 2013, after throwing his support behind Cookson, in his bid to unseat incumbent president, Pat McQuaid.
However, over time Lappartient became critical of Cookson’s leadership, questioning many of his decisions along the way.
“I have always voiced my concerns on the various challenges I have witnessed at UCI, and as a vice-president of the organization, I have been made aware of a number of issues that must be urgently addressed if cycling is to remain a credible sport”, Lappartient says in his manifesto.
“It is crucial that we have at UCI a President with a real leadership, who is truly engaged and with a clear vision for cycling.”
In addition to his role at the UCI, Lappartient is active in local politics in his native Brittany, where he has been mayor of the small coastal town of Sarzeau for the past decade, and he sits on the departmental council of Morbihan.
He was president of the French Cycling Federation from 2005 until March this year, when he decided not to seek reelection.
Lappartient’s decision not to run again, was widely viewed as a political move to challenge Cookson later this year.
more from Lappartient
At the upcoming September 21st UCI Congress in Bergen – NORWAY, 45 delegates from five continents will vote to elect a new UCI President and renew members of the Management Committee. Given the challenges lying ahead for the future President of the UCI and his team, there is a great deal at stake for both our sport and our international federation. With my proven track record as a two-term President of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) (2009 –2017) my experience as President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme since 2013, and with the strong back up of the FFC, I have made the decision to be a candidate to become the next President of the Union Cycliste Internationale and lead a solid reform that will genuinely overcome the various challenges that the organization is facing with. My level of engagement in this mission and the action plan that I propose are bracketed around five pillars I consider as essential if we are to be successful on this undertaken, and in the interests of international cycling. My first priority will be to strengthen the authority of the UCI with a President ensuring a real and effective leadership role. The new President must improve the governance of the federation by boosting its ability to bring about changes and granting a larger role to elected representatives and the Management Committee. My goal will be to make the UCI an international federation that is strong, influential and able to make substantial contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic movement. My second point of action will be to place the UCI at the service of every national federation. In order to achieve this, the World Cycling Centre will play a key role in implementing a robust cooperative and solidarity programme that is meaningful to the federations. It will also be necessary to modernize the format of the World Championships and develop new tools that will effectively meet the needs of its members. The Union Cycliste Internationale must make cycling a sport of the 21st century, which constitutes the third pillar of my project. This will mean promoting the development of women’s cycling, focusing in particular on its structure in terms of both races and teams. We must also encourage any initiatives aimed at making cycling accessible to everyone in society and encouraging participation across all of its disciplines. Developing an ambitious vision for professional cycling will be of critical importance for the new management team, and this will be the fourth key area of my project. To sustain such scheme, a clear and credible reform will need to be implemented and will require the “goodwill” and great collaboration among every stakeholder. The image that international cycling projects to the rest of the world is a crucial part of its development, which is why it will be essential to monitor the credibility of sporting results across various competitions. A genuine action plan aimed at supporting the fight against technological fraud must be introduced as quickly as possible. In addition, our engagement towards a zero-tolerance policy against doping will call upon deep analysis and collaboration from both an organisational standpoint in line with IOC recommendations, and from a scientific approach in partnership with WADA. Furthermore, because good governance is about protecting and being proactive, athletes’ overall wellbeing will be one of my main preoccupations via the development of an actual physical fitness and aptitude assessment system. Lastly, the danger linked to the changing nature of sports betting must be better understood if we want to ensure that the image and reputation of cycling are not tarnished by any wrongdoing. The five pillars summarized above represent the cornerstone of my Candidacy Manifesto to lead the UCI to a brighter future. Over the past few months, I have become aware of the significant desire and need for change in governance expressed by national federations. This project that I am proposing displays a real ambition for cycling. – Strengthening the authority of the UCI with a President ensuring a real and effective leadership – Placing UCI at the service of National Federations – Making cycling a sport of the 21st century – Developing an ambitious vision for professional cycling – Ensuring credibility of sporting results and protecting athletes The French Cycling Federation and its President Michel CALLOT wholeheartedly support David LAPPARTIENT’s candidacy for UCI Presidency. “David LAPPARTIENT’s candidacy is backed up by a clear vision and an ambitious project for our international federation and I am in total agreement with and endorse his proposition. The leadership that he has demonstrated within both the FFC and the UEC gives a clear indication of the future success he will have in leading the UCI. On behalf of the FFC and its governing bodies, I wish David LAPPARTIENT the very best in his campaign and look forward to see him upholding the values of cycling that we all hold so dear.” – Michel CALLOT I count on your presence at the press conference and look forward to speaking with you. My Very Best regards, David LAPPARTIENT DAVID LAPPARTIENT: – French, born on 31st May 1973. Married with three children – Holds a degree in Engineering from the Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics (ESTP) – France (1998) – Vice-President of the International Cycling Union since 2013 – President of the European Cycling Union since 2013 – President of the French Cycling Federation between 2009 and 2017 – First elected to the UCI Steering Committee on 28th September 2005 – President of the Professional Cycling Council
At the upcoming September 21st UCI Congress in Bergen – NORWAY, 45 delegates from five continents will vote to elect a new UCI President and renew members of the Management Committee. Given the challenges lying ahead for the future President of the UCI and his team, there is a great deal at stake for both our sport and our international federation.
With my proven track record as a two-term President of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) (2009 –2017) my experience as President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme since 2013, and with the strong back up of the FFC, I have made the decision to be a candidate to become the next President of the Union Cycliste Internationale and lead a solid reform that will genuinely overcome the various challenges that the organization is facing with.
My level of engagement in this mission and the action plan that I propose are bracketed around five pillars I consider as essential if we are to be successful on this undertaken, and in the interests of international cycling.
My first priority will be to strengthen the authority of the UCI with a President ensuring a real and effective leadership role. The new President must improve the governance of the federation by boosting its ability to bring about changes and granting a larger role to elected representatives and the Management Committee. My goal will be to make the UCI an international federation that is strong, influential and able to make substantial contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic movement.
My second point of action will be to place the UCI at the service of every national federation. In order to achieve this, the World Cycling Centre will play a key role in implementing a robust cooperative and solidarity programme that is meaningful to the federations. It will also be necessary to modernize the format of the World Championships and develop new tools that will effectively meet the needs of its members.
The Union Cycliste Internationale must make cycling a sport of the 21st century, which constitutes the third pillar of my project. This will mean promoting the development of women’s cycling, focusing in particular on its structure in terms of both races and teams. We must also encourage any initiatives aimed at making cycling accessible to everyone in society and encouraging participation across all of its disciplines.
Developing an ambitious vision for professional cycling will be of critical importance for the new management team, and this will be the fourth key area of my project. To sustain such scheme, a clear and credible reform will need to be implemented and will require the “goodwill” and great collaboration among every stakeholder.
The image that international cycling projects to the rest of the world is a crucial part of its development, which is why it will be essential to monitor the credibility of sporting results across various competitions. A genuine action plan aimed at supporting the fight against technological fraud must be introduced as quickly as possible. In addition, our engagement towards a zero-tolerance policy against doping will call upon deep analysis and collaboration from both an organisational standpoint in line with IOC recommendations, and from a scientific approach in partnership with WADA. Furthermore, because good governance is about protecting and being proactive, athletes’ overall wellbeing will be one of my main preoccupations via the development of an actual physical fitness and aptitude assessment system. Lastly, the danger linked to the changing nature of sports betting must be better understood if we want to ensure that the image and reputation of cycling are not tarnished by any wrongdoing.
The five pillars summarized above represent the cornerstone of my Candidacy Manifesto to lead the UCI to a brighter future. Over the past few months, I have become aware of the significant desire and need for change in governance expressed by national federations. This project that I am proposing displays a real ambition for cycling.
– Strengthening the authority of the UCI with a President ensuring a real and effective leadership
– Placing UCI at the service of National Federations
– Making cycling a sport of the 21st century
– Developing an ambitious vision for professional cycling
– Ensuring credibility of sporting results and protecting athletes
The French Cycling Federation and its President Michel CALLOT wholeheartedly support David LAPPARTIENT’s candidacy for UCI Presidency.
“David LAPPARTIENT’s candidacy is backed up by a clear vision and an ambitious project for our international federation and I am in total agreement with and endorse his proposition. The leadership that he has demonstrated within both the FFC and the UEC gives a clear indication of the future success he will have in leading the UCI. On behalf of the FFC and its governing bodies, I wish David LAPPARTIENT the very best in his campaign and look forward to see him upholding the values of cycling that we all hold so dear.” – Michel CALLOT
I count on your presence at the press conference and look forward to speaking with you.
My Very Best regards,
David LAPPARTIENT
DAVID LAPPARTIENT:
– French, born on 31st May 1973. Married with three children – Holds a degree in Engineering from the Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics (ESTP) – France (1998) – Vice-President of the International Cycling Union since 2013 – President of the European Cycling Union since 2013 – President of the French Cycling Federation between 2009 and 2017 – First elected to the UCI Steering Committee on 28th September 2005 – President of the Professional Cycling Council
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