He knew how to create suspense. He suggested no, then suggested maybe, before slipping in a why not. Tuesday June 20, one day before the deadline, David Lappartient came out of the woods to announce, via a long press release, his decision to run for president of the International Cycling Union.
At 44, the Frenchman stands in the way of the Briton Brian Cookson, 65, president of the UCI for 4 years. Unless invited at the last minute, the two men will compete for the supreme position on September 21 in Bergen, Norway, on the sidelines of the World Road Championships. An election where 45 delegates representing the five continents will be called to the polls.
The campaign should last 3 months. It will be short but looks muscular. David Lappartient opened hostilities on Tuesday by presenting the main axes of his program. The Frenchman, re-elected last March by acclamation as president of the European Cycling Union, promises the strengthening “of the authority of the UCI with a president providing real leadership. » A direct attack against his British rival, whom he criticizes for too often leaving decision-making power in the hands of the UCI management.
Brian Cookson (pictured below) hit back without delay. Tuesday June 20, he reacted to the announcement of the French leader's candidacy with this comment: "I note that David Lappartient has not yet revealed many details on the vision and program that he could have beyond his personal ambition, known to all, for the role of president. »
Obviously, David Lappartient has been preparing his case for several months. Le Breton, an engineer by training, has written his profession of faith, accessible on his dedicated website, ourpassion.org, available in English and French. He sets out the broad outlines of a plan for the UCI focused on "a program of solidarity and cooperation for the federations", the development of women's cycling, "a credible and serious reform" of professional cycling, "the implementation implementation of an action plan aimed at strengthening the fight against technological fraud”.
David Lappartient also explains wanting “ make the UCI a strong international federation, listened to and capable of emphasizing its place within the Olympic and Paralympic movement. » He talks about his ambition to make cycling “the sport of the 21st century”.
Is the Frenchman jumping into battle too early? Questioned at the beginning of last March by FrancsJeux on a possible candidacy, he then replied: “It’s all a question of time. I would like to chair the International Cycling Union. Brian Cookson, the current president, having announced his candidacy for a second term, it would make sense for me to wait until 2021 to get started. But nothing says that this logic will be respected. »
Obviously, he has decided to defy “logic” and challenge now a British rival whose possible second term would be his last. Perhaps he was encouraged by the crisis that British cycling is currently going through since the edifying discoveries by a parliamentary committee into the practices of Team Sky, the creation of which Brian Cookson oversaw during his time as president of British Cycling. At the beginning of March, an MP member of the committee, Damian Collins, declared to the Times: “The credibility of Team Sky and the British Cycling Federation has fallen into tatters. »
Will the Sky affair weaken Brian Cookson? Not sure. The Briton can highlight a first mandate at the UCI with a more than respectable record. Above all, he can boast of having obtained an increased place for cycling in the Tokyo Games program, with the addition of several disciplines (Madison and BMX freestyle), and a stable number of athlete quotas.
David Lappartient has already revealed the next stage of his campaign program: a press conference on Friday June 30 in Düsseldorf, on the sidelines of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. On (almost) neutral ground.
