Tour de Suisse introduces GPS trackers following fatal crashes

"We can't completely prevent crashes with these measures, but we're doing everything to ensure teams have all the information they need and that consequences are minimised as much as possible," race director Olivier Senn explained at a press conference in Küssnacht am Rigi, according to Sporza.

The race becomes the first cycling event to launch an extensive tracking system for competitors alongside a mobile safety centre. The technology will allow responders to locate bikes in the event of emergencies, with trackers also programmed to automatically alert officials when abnormal patterns are detected.

Senn outlined how the system will function during the eight-day stage race: "All information and images come together in the security centre. From there, we can monitor the entire situation and intervene immediately if necessary."

Each bike will be fitted with a small GPS tracker, a measure that required full cooperation from participating teams. "I'm pleased that all teams are working with us without exception, because we can't tell them what to do," Senn added.

The tracking system forms part of a broader safety initiative. The organisation will also mark all potential danger zones in VeloViewer, a platform teams already use to scout routes. By combining multiple safety measures, organisers hope to set a precedent for future races.

The urgency for enhanced safety protocols intensified following two tragic incidents in Switzerland. Last year, Swiss rider Muriel Furrer died after lying undiscovered for some time following a crash on a descent at the 2024 World Championships in Zürich. In 2023, Gino Mäder lost his life after a crash at the Tour de Suisse.

While acknowledging that "absolute safety doesn't exist," the race organisation has responded to the tragedies by implementing technology that could help prevent similar incidents or enable faster response times when accidents occur.