Exclusive: UCI moves towards mandatory GPS rider tracking to improve safety in cycling

According to a letter obtained by Domestique and confirmed by multiple sources, UCI President David Lappartient has asked the sport’s key stakeholder groups to move towards the adoption of GPS-based rider safety tracking systems. The letter, dated March 13 and addressed to the AIGCP, AIOCC and CPA, frames the technology as a tool to improve safety and reduce risks during races.

“It will need to become mandatory and phased in across event classes,” Lappartient wrote. The Frenchman stressed that the UCI would not seek to impose a specific system, whether it is the one developed by its timing partner Swiss Timing or any other solution. Instead, the governing body said it would define the most suitable approach in collaboration with stakeholders.

The discussion is explicitly limited in scope, with the UCI stating that it will concern the use of GPS tracking for safety and race management purposes only and it will not extend to other forms of data collection or exploitation.

Although the Lappartient emphasises a collaborative approach, his letter also underlines that the UCI will ultimately define the technical specifications and protocols for how such systems are used. 

However, the UCI said it would “not seek to impose a specific system, and priority shall be given to a system that allows for open access to providing such services.” It added that teams, organisers and riders are free to work with providers of their choice.

At the same time, the UCI acknowledged that the sport is still far from full scale implementation, underlining that the current phase is focused on gathering input and exploring viable solutions rather than immediate rollout.

The letter highlights specific safety concerns, including the risk of riders going off course unnoticed, describing it as a “fundamental danger” within the current race environment. Stakeholders have been asked to submit proposals covering both hardware and software requirements, as well as operational processes, with a deadline set for April 30.

While the UCI is seeking input from across the sport before defining the final framework, the letter also signals that if a reasonable and widely accepted solution is not reached through this process, the governing body is prepared to enforce the implementation of GPS tracking systems in the interest of rider safety.

Calls for the use of tracking technology as a safety tool are not new, but full-scale implementation has proven to be complex. Questions of governance, commercial interests and team autonomy have contributed to stalling the process. Five teams were disqualified from last year’s Tour de Romandie Féminin after a dispute between the governing body and teams over the rules governing a test of rider tracking technology on the race. 

Recently, Domestique spoke to Velon about the workings of its rider safety tracking system, which is already being used in major races. That system has been gradually rolled out and continues to evolve, offering teams and organisers real time data and safety alerts during competition.

Velon has welcomed the UCI’s position in response to a request for comment from Domestique. “Velon welcomes the letter dated March 13, 2026, sent by David Lappartient, President, UCI, to the presidents of the AIGCP, AIOCC and CPA,” said CEO Graham Bartlett.

“Velon pioneered live tracking data, launching its system over 10 years ago and has been showing the fans of the sport the in-race performance of the teams and riders ever since.”

Bartlett pointed to the continued development of its GPS-based safety system, which has already been used at races including the Tour de Suisse, Il Lombardia, Strade Bianche and the UAE Tour, and is set to be deployed at Milan-Sanremo.

“Velon looks forward to a positive exchange of information with the UCI in the coming months,” he added.