The UCI has the introduction of a GPS driver tracking system at the Road Worlds Championships in Rwanda next week (21-28.
All drivers in all categories are equipped with a GPS tracking device at every event in the worlds, whereby the tracking system enables complete monitoring of driver positions and speeds.
Hopefully the system will avoid a repetition of the tragic death of Muriel Furrer at the World Championships in Switzerland in 2024 after it has joined trees and was not seen by race officials or medical services.
The GPS tracking system will be available in all street races, individual time methods and team time attempts in the men and women's pelotons at the elite, U23 and junior racing levels in Rwanda.
The UCI previously tested the system in August at the Tour de Romandie Féminin with a driver per team with the device. However, the test was not completely planned after five teams were disqualified after a dispute over the GPS devices on the first day of the race.
Visma lease A bike, a canyon-sram-zondacrypto, EF Education-Olotly, Picnic-Postnl and Lidl-Trek were disqualified by the breed after they did not agree to the implementation of the system-imposed on security, consent and liability.
The implementation of the technology is expected to continue without similar disputes in Rwanda, since the races are managed by the UCI and are contested by national associations and not by professional teams.
“The Union Cycle -Internationale (UCI) has confirmed that it will use a GPS driver -tracking system to improve the safety of the driver at the UCI Road World Championships 2025, which will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 21 to 28 September,” the UCI announced when the first driver for the opening time process of Sunday in Rwanda arrived.
“This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts of the UCI and safer to improve the security of professional road cyclists. The GPS security tracking used in Rwanda was tested in the three phases of the Tour de Romandie Féminin in Switzerland, which made it possible to be refined.”
The system enables the UCI to completely monitor the drivers in all races in Rwanda and to enable a quick reaction in the event of a crash.
“This system, which is operated by the UCI Road World Championships Control Center, enables data to monitor data in terms of position and speed of the entire peloton in real time, which enables immediate identification of unusual situations, such as:
“In such a case, the exact position of the driver is transferred to the responsible parties in the convoy organizers, UCI commissioners, medical and security services – so that corresponding measures can be taken immediately.”
The UCI President David Lappartient welcomed the introduction of the system and thanked those who contributed to his development.
“Together with a safe and close cooperation with everyone involved in the professional road bike ride, the UCI is constantly working to improve the safety of drivers. The introduction of a GPS security tracking system for drivers is important in this regard and necessary progress,” said Lappartant.
“Thanks to this system, any incident or accident that may have been unnoticed can quickly be identified, and it is possible to support the data subject as soon as possible by mobilizing the people already displayed on site and the emergency services.
“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of this new security device and the national associations that will open in Kigali during the UCI Road World Championships in 2025.”
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