UCI moves to strengthen race safety with live tracking after rider’s death

Cycling’s governing body plans to introduce mandatory real-time tracking of riders and vehicles at professional road races after the death of British rider Finlay Tarling.

The International Cycling Union, or UCI, said the issue dominated a two-day meeting of its Professional Cycling Council. The meeting opened with a tribute to Tarling, who was 19 when he died after an accident during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal on August 14.

Portugal’s RTP broadcaster reported that Tarling was hit by a non-race car travelling in the opposite direction. The UCI said cycling’s main stakeholder groups had failed to agree on a joint proposal, leaving it to establish a dedicated system and the rules governing its use.

“Given safety remains an absolute priority, the UCI will therefore establish protocols and a regulatory framework for the use of real-time tracking systems at races,” the organization said.

The technology is intended to be introduced first at UCI WorldTour and Women’s WorldTour events before expanding across professional road cycling. Tracking systems operated in every category at the 2025 Road World Championships in Kigali and will be used again at this year’s championships in Montreal later this month.

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Given safety remains an absolute priority, the UCI will therefore establish protocols and a regulatory framework for the use of real-time tracking systems at races.