UCI vice president David Lappartient has announced that he will leave his chief role at the French Cycling Federation. The Frenchman has hinted that he may run for the UCI’s top job but according to Cyclingnews, he has ruled out such a possibility.

"I had a press conference on Friday at the national velodrome to just confirm that I would stand down as President of the French Cycling Federation in March next year and not seek re-election. That's the end of my current term," Lappartient told Cyclingnews on Friday evening. "I will be a candidate to carry on as the President of the European Cycling Union but I said nothing about the UCI. Of course, as I've always said, I'd be interested in one day becoming a candidate for the head of the UCI but some of the press have taken the wrong conclusion from what I've said. I've not said that I will be a candidate for 2017. For the moment it's not on my programme."

Current president Brian Cookson will run for a second and final term, he said in March. Cookson was elected to his current term in 2013. Elections will take place at the world championships in Norway next fall. 

David Lappartient could be his main rival.

"I have to say that I made some points at the UCI Committee in June that things need to change at the UCI. I hope that what was put on the floor will be taken seriously and that we can make an agreement," he told Cyclingnews. "For me what's really important is what will happen in the future. I'm disappointed about some of the decisions from the UCI and I've spoken to Brian directly. There are some times when we don't agree and we have frank discussions but there's no bad relationship. I have to say that I have some more bad problems with some of the staff at the UCI. I hope the UCI can come back with a stronger voice in some areas. If that happens then we can talk about support."