The move was approved by UEC members at the organisation's Steering Committee meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, last December.

The UEC was based in Erlenbach just outside Zurich since its foundation in 1990 and is the most powerful continental confederation in the sport with 48 member federations.

The move to Aigle reflects the strong ties between UEC and UCI President Brian Cookson, it is claimed.

The UEC overwhelmingly backed Cookson during his campaign for the Presidency of the world governing body last year when it voted to support the Briton at its Exceptional Ordinary General Assembly in Zurich.

Cookson went on to defeat incumbent Pat McQuaid at the UCI Congress in Florence in September 2013.

UEC President David Lappartient will not have far to travel to speak to UCI President Brian Cookson as both organisations will be based at the World Cycling Centre ©AFP/Getty Images



Less than 24 hours after being elected to the top job, Cookson appointed UEC President David Lappartient as one of his vice-presidents along with head of the African Confederation, Egyptian Mohamed Azzam and Oceania chief, Australian Tracey Gaudry.

"Moving our headquarters to the World Cycling Centre is a further step to strengthen the relations between the UEC and the UCI; a symbiotic relationship that is already yielding great results and is going to be even closer and fruitful," said Lappartient, elected as UEC President by a landslide margin in March last year, replacing Poland's Wojciech Walkiewicz, who had stood down after serving one four-year term.

"Let me thank President Cookson for having welcomed us to the home of world cycling, a place that will prompt us to work further to spread cycling and its best values across Europe."

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