Pat McQuaid, the president of the Federation of Irish Cyclists, was elected to the board of the UCI, the world controlling body for cycling, at the European Congress in Munich on Saturday.

There were 12 candidates for eight places, with delegates from 24 countries voting. Although Daniel Baal of France headed the poll with 23 votes, McQuaid had 19. Britain's Ian Emmerson, a former vice president of the union, was eliminated as his total was just six.

McQuaid, who has almost completed negotiations to have an Irish start to the Tour de France next year, does not take his place on the UCI board until the world championship congress in San Sebastian in October.

He left yesterday to finalise arrangements for the route for the Tour of the Philippines in April - he is race director of that event.