Brian Cookson has reacted to the news that he will be challenged for the next term of UCI presidency by his vice-president David Lappartient, releasing a statement in which he questions the Frenchman`s vision for the sport and notes his `well known personal ambition for the role`. Cookson, formerly president of British Cycling, succeeded Pat McQuaid as UCI president in 2013 and is coming to the end of his four-year team. He has always voiced his desire to serve a second and final term. Lappartient is the former president of the French cycling federation and the European Cycling Union, and has served as vice-president at the UCI, under Cookson, for the past four years. He has long been tipped with a bid for the top job in cycling administration, and launched his candidacy on Tuesday with a new website - ourpassion.org - a social media campaign, and a five-pillar project that promises `real leadership` and `a real ambition for cycling`. ADVERTISEMENT `Having changed the constitution of the UCI to introduce term limits and improve the election process after the controversial events of four years ago, I respect other people`s right to announce their candidature,` Cookson wrote in a statement on Tuesday. `I note that so far David Lappartient has not set out very much detail in his plan or any vision he may have beyond his well known personal ambition for the role. I look forward to debating what matters for the future of cycling over the coming months.` Lappartient`s hat was thrown into the ring just 24 hours before the deadline for candidacy registration, though it wouldn`t have come as a huge surprise to the Cookson camp.
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