Ghent University tests new safety sensor in first real cycling race

Ghent University researchers have conducted the first real-world test of their digital safety sensor, RouBack, during the Altebra Muurclassic Juniors cycling race in Geraardsbergen. All 138 participants wore the sensor, the result of over six years of research at UGent IDLab. The RouBack sensor, worn on the rider's back under their jersey, performs three functions simultaneously: it tracks each rider's location using GPS, detects incidents such as crashes or sudden braking, and sends vibration alerts when danger is imminent. Race officials could monitor the live location of all riders and track time differences. The system allows organizers to pre-mark risky points on the course, with the sensor vibrating five seconds before a rider reaches such a location. In case of an unexpected incident, riders approaching the area can also be immediately alerted. "We do not work with earpieces," explained Professor Steven Verstockt of UGent IDLab. "It is purely a vibration signal. We can also add a sound, but in a race, the sound does not always come through well." Parents were also able to follow their child's position live during the race, seeing only their own rider's location relative to the peloton. "The core is very simple: safety for the riders on the course, and reassurance for their parents. 'He's riding, he's on the course, he's safe.' That is what a parent wants to know. And that is what the RouBack safety sensor makes possible," Verstockt stated. The successful test follows earlier trials on circuits and with professional teams, marking the first deployment in a full peloton during an actual competition. The research was initiated after a serious crash involving cyclist Fabio Jakobsen in 2020. Verstockt plans to establish a spin-off company named RouBack later this year, with the hope of eventually deploying the system in professional races.

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We do not work with earpieces. It is purely a vibration signal. We can also add a sound, but in a race, the sound does not always come through well.