Lappartient secured a convincing victory by 37 votes to eight in today’s UCI election, unseating Britain’s Brian Cookson.

The Frenchman had been re-elected as the UEC chief earlier this year and his second term was due to have taken him through to 2021.

Having taken replaced Cookson, Lappartient has stepped down as UEC President.

The UEC Management Board held an extraordinary meeting here today after the UCI Congress.

In accordance with their constitution, Cattaneo was chosen to serve as the acting UEC President until their next Congress in March 2018.

The President, elected at the Congress, will serve the remainder of Lappartient’s term through to 2021.

Cattaneo was chosen as the UEC vice-president in March, the Swiss official having previously served as a UCI Management Committee member from 2005 to 2013.

He has been the vice-president of the UCI World Cycling Centre Foundation since 2006.

During his professional cycling career from 1986 to 1994, Cattaneo twice competed at the Giro d’Italia.

He represented Switzerland at four World Championships and also completed three Tours of Switzerland and two Tours de Romandie.

The 58-year-old has served as a member of the Swiss Cycling Federation Management Board for two terms and led the Organising Committee for the 1996 Road World Championships in Lugano.

He reprised the role for the 2003 Mountain Bike, Trials and Marathon World Championships.