The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has confirmed that a GPS rider tracking system will be deployed to enhance rider safety during the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 21 to 28 September.
The innovation, developed in partnership with SafeR, was tested successfully at the Tour de Romandie Féminin in Switzerland in August and has since been refined for full-scale use in Kigali.
Under the system, all riders – across Men’s and Women’s Elite, Under-23, and Junior categories – will carry a GPS tracking device attached beneath their saddle during road races, individual time trials, and team time trials.
From a central control centre, organisers will be able to monitor riders’ positions and speeds in real time. If a cyclist suddenly stops or encounters trouble, their exact location will be relayed instantly to commissaires, organisers, and medical and security teams for rapid intervention.
UCI President David Lappartient hailed the system as a breakthrough in rider protection. “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.
“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.”
The UCI says it will continue collaborating with national federations, event organisers, and partners to expand the use of GPS rider safety tracking across international competitions, alongside the development of safety alert and intervention protocols.
The 2025 Road World Championships in Kigali will mark the first-ever deployment of the technology at a global cycling event.
