Africa-Press – Rwanda. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced the introduction of a groundbreaking GPS rider safety tracking system at the 98th edition of the UCI Road World Championships, set to take place in Kigali, from Sunday, September 21 to 28.
For the first time in the history of the World Championships, every rider in the Men’s and Women’s Elite, Under-23, and Junior categories will be equipped with a GPS device mounted under the saddle during road races, individual and team time trials.
The system, developed in partnership with SafeR, will enable real-time monitoring of rider position and speed, allowing officials to immediately detect unusual situations, such as a sudden stop on the course. In such cases, the rider’s exact location will be instantly relayed to race organisers, UCI Commissaires, medical teams, and security services to ensure swift response.
“The introduction of GPS safety tracking is important and necessary progress,” UCI President David Lappartient said. “Thanks to this system, any incident or accident that might have gone unnoticed can be quickly identified, enabling immediate support for the rider in need.”
The decision comes after 18-year-old Muriel Furrer died following a crash in a junior World Championship race last year in Zurich, Switzerland. Furrer reportedly lay alone for almost an hour and a half and had suffered a serious head injury. She later died at Zurich University hospital.
The technology was tested earlier this year during the Tour de Romandie Féminin in Switzerland, where it proved effective in refining safety intervention protocols, according to UCI. Operated from the UCI Road World Championships control centre in Kigali, the system is expected to significantly boost rider protection and emergency response.
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