The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there are still doubts over whether the global health situation will allow competition to take place. 

The suspension of sport during the pandemic has also resulted in financial strain for governing bodies.

Despite this, the UCI is optimistic it will maintain its reserves in excess of CHF20 million (£16.8 million/$22 million/€18.7 million) through to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The Congress, taking place virtually, also approved the UCI Annual Report for 2019, the budget for 2021 and an updated forecast for 2020. 

Delegates from 115 national bodies participated and UCI President David Lappartient and IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed the attendees. 

The Congress voted in favour of the affiliation of the National Federation of Palestine, bringing the number of member national federations to 197.

It was also decided to exclude the Cycling Federation of Chile, the Bulgarian Cycling Union and the Cycling Association of Montenegro for serious violations of the UCI Constitution, particularly concerning governance and financial obligations. 

Three new governing bodies were then affiliated for the countries - the National Federation of Chile, the National Federation of Bulgaria and the National Federation of Montenegro.

International Testing Agency (ITA) director general Benjamin Cohen gave a presentation to Congress following the transfer of the UCI’s anti-doping operations from the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation to the ITA. 

This transfer is set to come into full effect on January 1. 

In addition, the Congress welcomed the appointment of Michael Rogers as UCI innovation manager. 

He will join the UCI sports department on November 15 and will be in charge of, among other areas, developing cycling esports, managing projects linked to new technologies in cycling events, and the use of athletes’ in-race data. 

The Australian was a professional cyclist from 2000 to 2016 and was crowned world champion in the individual time trial in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

UCI President Lappartient opened and closed the Congress.

"I would like to sincerely thank all the members of cycling’s families for their commitment, solidarity and unity throughout 2020 which was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic," Lappartient said. 

"Together, we managed to bring cycling to life when we could have feared that no competition would take place.

"Fortunately, the year was not limited to managing the crisis linked to the novel coronavirus, and we have made progress in numerous areas. 

"On a sporting level, it was the first edition of the UCI Women’s WorldTour in its new format; the reform of track cycling was finalised and will come into effect in 2021; as for cyclo-cross, the first round of the new-look UCI World Cup will take place at the end of the month.

"Other sectors saw significant progress, not least ethics and governance. 

"In addition, the report of the Ethics Commission, which was presented to the Federations ahead of Congress, demonstrates the scope of the Commission’s activities. 

"Their work is now published by the UCI and confirms the importance of the Ethics Commission for the governance of our institution."