Fri, September 19, 2025
UCI introduces GPS tracking system for all riders following the tragic death of teen athlete
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) will use GPS trackers for all athletes at the Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 21-28, 2025 - the first time Africa has staged the event. The aim is to enhance rider safety in the wake of Muriel Furrer’s death during the junior women’s race at the 2024 Road World Championships in Zurich. The Swiss teen unfortunately crashed and was left unconscious for over an hour whilst organisers were unaware of the tragic incident.
The junior and under-23 categories up to the elite riders will have the device fitted under their saddles across the road race and individual and team time trials.
Prior to this, the UCI prevented radio communications for about 15 years. However, the governing body decided to test the GPS system last month during the Tour de Romandie Feminin in Switzerland. Quite surprisingly considering the circumstances, the UCI had to ban five teams for refusing to participate in the testing of the GPS safety tracking technology as they viewed it as an “imposition.” The UCI stated that the lack of cooperation from those teams was “deplorable.”
The UCI voiced that the GPS technology will: “Enable real-time monitoring of data regarding the position and speed of the entire peloton, thus allowing for immediate identification of any unusual situations, such as a rider suddenly stopping on the course.”
David Lappartient, UCI president, stated: “The UCI, together with SafeR and in close collaboration with all stakeholders of professional road cycling, is constantly working to improve the safety of riders.”
He said that the technology “is important and necessary progress,” and “thanks to this system, any incident or accident that might have gone unnoticed can be quickly identified, and it will be possible to assist the person concerned as quickly as possible by mobilising those already on the ground and the emergency services.”
This forms part of several new UCI safety regulations.
The UCI’s official statement on the GPS system can be found here.
