UCI Confirms GPS Trackers for All Riders at Rwanda Road World Championships to Enhance Safety

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has confirmed that all riders at the 2025 Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, will be equipped with GPS tracking devices installed under their saddles to enhance rider safety. This initiative follows the tragic death of Swiss junior racer Muriel Furrer at the 2024 championships in Zurich, where she remained undiscovered for over an hour after a crash. The GPS system, developed as part of the UCI's SafeR safety program, allows real-time monitoring of riders' positions and speeds to quickly identify incidents such as sudden stops or crashes, enabling faster medical and security response. Despite initial resistance and disputes with teams during trials at the Tour de Romandie Féminin, where some teams refused to participate leading to disqualifications, the UCI refined the system and expanded its use to all categories, including juniors and under-23 riders. UCI President David Lappartient emphasized that the tracking technology represents important progress in protecting riders and is planned for wider deployment across future races. The introduction of this system marks a significant step toward improving safety measures in professional road cycling.