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Follow your favourite Tour de France riders as never before thanks to latest tech

ASO technology partner Dimension Data lets fans keep tabs on individual riders

Fans watching this year's Tour de France will be able to follow their favourite riders - whether that's Alberto Contador, Mark Cavendish or even Albert Timmer - through live tracking of each member of the peloton's position.

Dimension Data, technology partner of Tour organisers ASO, announced yesterday that it had finalised the analytics software and platform that will enable followers of the race - whether fans, or members of the media - to keep tabs on individual riders.

The innovation is also bound to affect how broadcasters report the race, and builds on the company's existing relationship with ASO, with some of its work in last year's race highlighted in this video released in March.

According to the company's executive chairman, Jeremy Ord, "The technology will allow cycling fans to follow the race in ways they’ve never been able to before.

"Until now it was difficult to understand what was happening outside of what could be shown on the live television coverage.

"The ability to follow riders, get accurate information about which riders are in a group, and see real-time speed are just some of the innovations that will be realised through this solution.

"During the duration of the three-week race, we’ll be rolling out a range of new capabilities, including a beta live-tracking website."

He added that the technology had been tested last month during the Critérium du Dauphiné, and said: “We analysed one cyclist cycling at an astounding 104 kilometres per hour. This type of data has not been available in the past.”

Race director Christian Prudhomme of ASO said that people would be able to gain greater insight into the race, as well as better understanding the roles of individual riders.

“This top-notch technological development will enable a better analysis of the race, highlight the race tactics, and also show how essential in this sport is each rider’s role within his team,” he explained.

“It will now be possible to understand how to prepare for a sprint finish in the last few kilometres of a stage, feel the wind’s impact on the rider’s speed, and so much more.

"Our efforts combined with those of Dimension Data will permanently change the way we follow cycling and the Tour de France," he added.

In May, in another first for the sport, Dimension Data partnered with ASO and Tour de Yorkshire co-organiser Welcome to Yorkshire to enable fans to vote for who they wanted to win the day's prize for most aggressive rider.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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11 comments

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CatAdsett | 9 years ago
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i agree i dd not see where i can follow??

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ColT | 9 years ago
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I'm being a bit thick.

How, exactly, can I follow...?

Is this available to mortals like me by clicking a link, or do I need to register/subscribe? Just curious, like.

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Darren C | 9 years ago
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This will be a big aid to the DS of each team, expect to see lots of tablet computers in their cars from now on.  39

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Jeffmcguinness | 9 years ago
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Its a great addition to the sport

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Metjas | 9 years ago
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so for 3 weeks between 1pm and 5pm this will be the setup in my front room: TV showing live pictures with sound turned off; live internet feed through HiFi so I can listen to my favourite commentator; smart phone to track race twitter feed; laptop showing me where all the riders are and who takes the most comfort breaks, or occasionally gets a train. All other household smart phones and laptops will be confiscated so not to compromise my internet feed.
Following conclusion of the race, I will then spend the rest of the evening watching highlight programmes of the race complemented by further race analysis on the internet and in-race on-bike footage. After that I will be fully informed to take part in all the sensible post-race chat forums, clear the empty crisp packets and bottles, check on the kids and dream about the perfect race scenario that only I seem to have worked out.

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Manchestercyclist | 9 years ago
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Given that the timings are often wrong and acknowledged so by commentators this will at least reduce the errors.

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kettrinboy | 9 years ago
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“We analysed one cyclist cycling at an astounding 104 kilometres per hour" not that astounding really for a pro tour rider , a few years ago Thor Hushovd was clocked at 69 mph or 111kph off one of the big mountain descents during the TDFand I doubt that's the fastest ever.

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RobD | 9 years ago
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This actually seems really exciting, while I'm not expecting it to work perfectly straight away, this could give some extra dimensions to the racing. (might mean sitting with an ipad whilst watching the race though...)

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tonylen | 9 years ago
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Yes but how?!?

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ColT replied to tonylen | 9 years ago
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tonylen wrote:

Yes but how?!?

^ wot he said

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