Lappartient: I expected over 30 votes

David Lappartient has told Cyclingnews that he was confident of an overwhelming majority in the UCI presidential election. The Frenchman comprehensively beat Brian Cookson 37 votes to 8 to become the new president, but many had expected a much closer race.

“Yesterday when we spoke I knew where I was and I wasn’t far away in the end. I wasn’t entirely sure on final numbers, but I expected more than 30. I’m very happy,” he told Cyclingnews.

Cookson expected to win the election although he thought that it would come down to just a few votes. However, Lappartient made huge inroads in Europe, where he is understood to have taken almost all of the 15 delegate votes. The election was run via a secret ballot with 45 delegates nominated to vote.

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Cookson and Lappartient ran campaigns with several similarities, but the Frenchman executed his path to office with far greater precision.

One UCI Management Committee member told Cyclingnews that, “Lappartient was everywhere and communicated very well. Brian didn’t have a strong campaign.”

When asked where he won the election, Lappartient told Cyclingnews that he offered something different to Cookson’s introverted and steady style of governance.

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