The ongoing disagreement with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) over the UCI’s reforms of men’s professional cycling are among areas highlighted in the letter, as well as concerns over the handling of technological fraud and the governing body's finances.

According to Cyclingpro.net, the letter was signed by French UCI vice-president David Lappartient and received the endorsement of several members of the Management Committee.

Sources close to the UCI have, however, indicated that Lappartient had been unable to get any members of the Management Committee to co-sign the letter, despite several attempts.

Members of the Committee were reportedly surprised by both its tone and content, claiming that it did not represent their opinions. 

It is also understood that the letter had not be signed by members of the UEC Management Committee, who are believed to have not been consulted over the contents of the letter,which was then sent on a UEC letterhead.

The letter was received two days after the latest meeting of the UCI’s Management Committee at the start of June, where Lappartient was said to have raised very few of the concerns .

A key concern reportedly raised by Lappartient was the feud with ASO, who informed the UCI in December that they would not register their road events to the top tier WorldTour in protest at the reforms.

Instead their events, such as the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix, would be registered for the second tier Hors Classe (HC) status for 2017 season, which would not require the organiser to invite all 18 of the WorldTour teams.

The UCI believe their reforms, which include giving teams three-year World Tour licences and adding new races to the calendar, will encourage stability to create further investment for growth and provide stronger structures to ensure cycling's credibility.

“ASO, organiser of the Tour de France, has decided in December 2015 not to include her trials in the World Tour in 2017, depriving the World Tour of some of his best races,” said Lappartient, who is believed to have voted against the reforms when they were passed last September.

“The AIOCC (race organisers) and CPA (riders' union) have refused to adopt the proposed reform.

“For the future of our sport and ensuring the role of our institution, it is essential to find a solution quickly."

The effectiveness of the tablet device used to detect technological fraud was also queried, with thermal imaging and X-ray devices mooted, while he questioned whether enough analysis of disc brakes had been done prior to them being introduced into the peloton.

The UCI suspended the trial of disc brakes following an injury suffered by Spain’s Francisco Ventoso in the Paris-Roubaix one-day race during April.

Finances of the governing body were also reportedly criticised, after the UCI reported an increased annual loss of CHF1.22 million (£874,000/$1.2 million/€1.1 million) for 2015 earlier this month, following a CHF121,000 (£87,000/$125,000/€111,000) loss in 2014.

The sudden strengthening of the Swiss franc had been labelled as a reason for the increased loss.

“Previously, funds from the IOC were used exclusively to finance solidarity, they did not cover operating deficits,” Lappartient said, according to Cyclingpro.net.

“An increase in payroll by 9.3 per cent in one year is unacceptable, especially incomprehensible that it was taken without the approval of the Management Committee.

“It also ignores the unusually high turnover for three years which resulted in a loss of expertise in some missions.”

Sources close to the UCI have told insidethegames that Cookson responded point by point to the Lappartient’s in a letter sent to the Frenchman.

It is understood that the Lappartient has been requested to either support the work of the Management Committee or consider his position.

Cookson is approaching the final year of his first term as the UCI President, but told the UEC’s annual Congress in March that he would stand for another four-year term, which would see him remain in charge until 2021.

Lappartient also revealed that he would stand for re-election as the UEC President at the Congress.

insidethegames has requested a comment from the UCI.