“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>
David Lappartient lost an ambitious bid for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency Thursday when the Frenchman finished a distant fourth in voting among seven candidates.
The 51-year-old UCI president had been considered a strong contender but managed only four votes, tying with Japan’s Morinari Watanabe.
Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe, was elected in a landslide, securing the required 49 votes in the first round to become the first woman and first African to lead the IOC.
“When you run for office, you hope to be elected. I wasn’t so naive as to not see that I was absolutely not the favorite and that I wasn’t in the top two,” Lappartient told L’Equipe. “I have absolutely no regrets about trying. I had 100 exceptional meetings with IOC members, and I was always well received.
“It also allows you to better understand the institution. And I also received many expressions of friendship from a number of colleagues. Friendship doesn’t necessarily mean your vote.”
Spain’s Antonio Samaranch finished second with 28 votes, while Sebastian Coe, another pre-election favorite, placed third with just eight votes.
Lappartient’s meager tally was somewhat surprising considering his reputation as a consummate insider and savvy political player.
Also read: Is pro cycling selling its soul?
The crushing loss ends the Frenchman’s pursuit of Olympic sport’s top job and ends speculation about how a Lappartient victory might impact cycling at the Olympic level and beyond.
Despite the loss, he will remain atop cycling’s governing body.
His second four-year term as UCI president concludes later this year, and he has not yet announced his intentions.
Multiple sources tell Velo they expect him to seek re-election for a third four-year term.
The UCI elections will take place this fall alongside the 2025 road world championships in Rwanda.
