The 43-year-old Frenchman was voted back in by acclamation at the organisation's Congress in Brussels.

He was the only candidate for the top job and will serve another four-year term until 2021.

The Congress in the Belgian capital was attended by International Cycling Union (UCI) President Brian Cookson, who Lappartient has been tipped to challenge.

"You have just re-elected me as head of the European Cycling Union and I would like to sincerely thank you," said Lappartient afterwards.

"I am aware of the responsibility you have once again entrusted to me and I will try to be worthy of your trust as I did during my last mandate.  

"You have expressed your wish to continue with the modernisation of the European Cycling Union.

"The project 'Together for European Cycling' which I am pleased to lead is one of my most important commitments. 

"It signals our intention to promote European cycling and its excellence. 

"This electoral project which became a mandate project was fully respected. 

"Twenty-sixteen was a year in which the European Cycling Union continued its development thanks to the introduction of the Elite Road European Championships which filled a gap, with cyclo-cross and with the Eurovision agreement to broadcast live the Elite European Championships in five disciplines, in 80 countries from five continents until 2021.

"We also contributed to the fight against technological fraud led by the International Cycling Union (UCI), being aware that there are still important actions to develop such as X-ray technology I would like to thank the UCI President, Brian Cookson, for the actions he has taken to guarantee our sport’s credibility.

"The European Cycling Union has a wealth of projects and especially the development of our European Championships in Glasgow in 2018 and to ensure that the 2019 European Games are a success as well as remaining at the service of our National Federations. 

"Our Confederation is looking to the future but it has not forgotten the past, its history and values whose heritage is our Federations, clubs and their leaders."

Cookson will seek a second term as UCI President at the body's Congress in Norwegian city Bergen on September 22.

Lappartient criticised the leadership of Cookson in a letter last year, citing the governing body’s feud with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) over the UCI’s World Tour reforms.

In January, the Englishman suggested the Frenchman should wait four years before launching a UCI Presidential bid.

Members of the UEC Management Committee were also elected in Brussels.

Sahib Alakbarov of Azerbaijan, Henrik Jess Jensen of Denmark, Martin Wolf of Germany, Agata Lang of Poland, Alexander Gusyatnikov of Russia and Rocco Cattaneo of Switzerland will all take up roles.

Lang, Gusyatnikov and Cattaneo will serve as vice presidents, with Italy's Enrico Della Casa reappointed as secretary general.