EAST Lancashire's Brian Cookson is the new president of the UCI having won a decisive vote in Italy today.

Cookson, who lives in Whalley, has been president of British Cycling since 1996 and now takes the top job in the sport which governs all disciplines from road to track.

Cookson will replace Pat McQuaid after defeating him 24-18 in a vote held in Florence.

“It is a huge honour to have been elected President of the UCI by my peers and I would like to thank them for the trust they have placed in me today," said Cookson.

"The campaign to get to this point has been intense but I am under no illusion that the real work starts now. So I call on the global cycling community to unite and come together to help ensure that our great sport realises its enormous potential. This is the vision that will drive and focus my activities over the next four years.

“I have said throughout my campaign that we must embrace a new style of governance and a collegiate way of working so that a new era of growth and commercial success for the UCI and our sport can begin.

"My first priorities as president will be to make anti-doping procedures in cycling fully independent, sit together with key stakeholders in the sport and work with WADA to ensure a swift investigation into cycling’s doping culture.

“It is by doing these things that we will build a firm platform to restore the reputation of our International Federation with sponsors, broadcasters, funding partners, host cities and the International Olympic Committee. Ultimately this is how we grow our sport worldwide and get more riders and fans drawn into cycling.

“Finally, while there have been some difficult moments between myself and my opponent Pat McQuaid during this election contest, I would like to thank Pat for the contribution he has made to cycling during his long career. I wish him well in whatever he goes on to do.”