Mandatory Use of GPS Trackers for Riders in 2025 World Championships Due to Muriel Furrer's Tragic Passing
GPS Tracking to Enhance Safety at UCI Road World Championships
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced that GPS tracking devices will be used at this year's UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, marking a significant step towards improving rider safety. This decision comes after the tragic incident involving the death of Swiss 18-year-old Muriel Furrer following a crash in the junior women's road race at last year's event in Zurich, Switzerland.
GPS tracking significantly improves safety in cycling races by providing real-time monitoring to race control, medical teams, and officials. This technology can alert race organizers instantly if a rider's GPS device stops moving for a certain period, detects abnormal speed changes, or veers off the designated race route.
The UCI has been pioneering this safety measure through its SafeR initiative. In 2025, the UCI tested GPS tracking at events like the Tour de Romandie Féminin, where one rider per team carried a GPS device to help refine tracking protocols and software. The aim is to provide race controllers and medical personnel with up-to-the-second location data to swiftly locate and assist riders in distress.
A notable example of this technology's real-world application can be seen in the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de Suisse Women’s races, where GPS tracking was implemented in June 2025. These races featured a dedicated security center with access to GPS signals, live television feeds, and weather radar. The system raised alarms if a rider's GPS showed no movement for 30 seconds, abnormal speed changes, or if a rider left the road.
The objective of the test at this year's Tour de Romandie Féminin, which takes place from 15-17 August, is to refine the UCI's safety tracking software and establish protocols to provide real-time data to race control, medical teams, and UCI Commissaires. The system will strengthen the monitoring of rider safety during races and enable rapid response in case of incidents.
While GPS tracking cannot completely prevent crashes, it aims to ensure that all information is available to the teams and that the consequences are minimized. The UCI's SafeR initiative aims to improve rider safety, and as part of this, all competitors at this year's World Championships will carry tracking devices.
In the Tour de Suisse, riders' bikes were fitted with small trackers that sounded an alarm in cases of anomalies. The UCI World Championships will take place in Kigali, Rwanda between 21-28 September.
UCI president David Lappartient has expressed openness to implementing GPS tracking in all WorldTour events. However, he stated that it was "too early" to say if radios would have made it simpler to locate Furrer. The objective of GPS tracking in cycling events is to provide real-time data to race control, medical teams, and UCI Commissaires, enabling rapid response in case of incidents.
This GPS tracking initiative marks a substantial advancement in rider safety, aiming to reduce fatalities and severe outcomes by ensuring that help arrives promptly after incidents. The UCI's commitment to rider safety is evident in its continuous efforts to implement innovative technologies and protocols to protect its athletes.
GPS tracking devices, implemented at the UCI Road World Championships, provide real-time monitoring to race control, medical teams, and officials, helping to significantly improve safety in cycling races. This technology is crucial for swiftly locating and assisting riders in distress, as it can alert race organizers instantly if a rider's GPS device stops moving for a certain period, detects abnormal speed changes, or veers off the designated race route.
