Crashes, what can be done?

[yaco]

Only one team car i think - they'd have been behind their lead rider i presume.

They had a team of four riders. Beside the team car,you have soigneurs on the side of the road, and other team officials in the pits. It's hard to believe you can miss a rider.

 

[Wyndbrook]

GPS tracking of all riders? All bikes in all pro events to be fitted with GPS so that the organizers and teams know where all their riders are in real time. Is that not a thing now with live tracking available via most head units/apps.

As an absolute numty with technical devices how do time gaps I see on my tv get calculated other than knowing where a bike is. Would this information not tell the right people where a rider is.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

As an absolute numty with technical devices how do time gaps I see on my tv get calculated other than knowing where a bike is. Would this information not tell the right people where a rider is.

Using tv motorbikes

 

[Wyndbrook]

Using tv motorbikes

Many thanks, I'm surprised that it's as basic as that.
Even my oldish car will tell the emergency services where I am if I crash.

 

[proffate]

GPS tracking of all riders? All bikes in all pro events to be fitted with GPS so that the organizers and teams know where all their riders are in real time. Is that not a thing now with live tracking available via most head units/apps.

That only works if you have a cell data connection, i.e. for consumer devices it talks to your phone. So this requires extra hardware to be carried around by riders along with a subscription service. And this is still not foolproof as the riders are probably often out of cell coverage. OK they could use a satellite connection, which probably has better uptime. But do you force amateurs to use these devices too? Because this is just as likely to happen, if not more, in amateur races. And this added barrier to entry for amateur racers will not help grow the sport.

Honestly this seems like a freak accident that we shouldn't over-optimize for. Full facial helmets will save a lot more lives, including this one (probably?). But this forum tends to scoff at that idea.