Theycame out on top after elections were held at the BMX World Championships in Rock Hill in the United States.

Separate votes for male and female candidates were held to ensure the UCI's goal of gender equality on the Commission.

The 28-year-old Phillips, the world champion in 2013, won the men's ballot with 21 votes, 30 per cent of the overall total.

Niek Kimman of The Netherlands was second with 14 votes, while American Donny Robinson and Canadian Tony Nyhaug both received 12.

Tyler Brown, another American, received 11 votes.

There were no abstentions. 

Smulders, winner of bronze medals at both the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Championships, won a two-horse race to gain the women's seat.

She beat Venezuela's 2015 world champion and Rio 2016 bronze medallist Stefany Hernandez by 35 votes to 32.

Three people abstained from the vote.

The election came as the UCI reforms the Athletes' Commission, increasing it in number from 13 representatives to 20.

Two cyclists - one male and female - will represent the UCI disciplines of road, track, BMX, Para-cycling, cyclo-cross, trials and indoor cycling.

The President - currently Dutch road cyclist Bobbie Traksel - and co-opted members will complete the body. 

Members of the Commission are elected for four-year terms at World Championships.

Since plans for the new electoral system were announced in December, track cyclists Kristina Vogel and Kennt De Ketele and cyclo-cross competitors Katerina Nash and Simon Zahner have all been elected.