From 2024, DATEV Challenge Roth in Germany will use the RaceRanger drafting measurement tool for pro athletes on the bike course.
As part of a long-term co-operation, the RaceRanger anti-drafting tech, will build on the event’s efforts to improve fairness of racing and transparency of officiating.
RaceRanger was developed in New Zealand and has been used at several events in 2023, including the World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in Ibiza, Challenge Wanaka in New Zealand and the Paris Paralympic test event.
The DATEV Challenge Roth organising team note that the RaceRanger system will now be used at the biggest long-distance triathlon in the world.
Challenge Roth Race Director Felix Walchshöfer said “Our goal is always to make the race even fairer. RaceRanger is a technical revolution.
“It supports our race judges in determining the drafting distances in a completely objective way. They can now see at a glance if an athlete is too close to the person in front. The system is also a great support for the athletes themselves to better assess their own following distances.
The current RaceRanger system consists of two lightweight devices, each equipped with distance sensors to measure the distance between riders. One is attached to front forks of the bike, the other to the rear of the seat post.
The rear devices have three coloured LED lights, which change colour and flash-pattern as the distance changes. They give the following rider an accurate indication of the distance to the rider in front. RaceRanger helps to remove any subjective guessing by both athletes and referees when it comes to the draft distances.
The system was founded by two former professional triathletes from New Zealand: James Elvery and Dylan McNeice.
RaceRanger Co-Founder & CEO James Elvery said “We are super excited to make our first race announcement for 2024 at Challenge Roth, one of the biggest races on the planet.
“Over the past 30 years, Felix [Walchshöfer], his family, and team have built this iconic race by listening closely to the needs of their athletes and constantly innovating. We look forward to bringing RaceRanger to this monument of the triathlon calendar, and working with the team to continue to improve the fairness of racing in our sport into the future.”
www.challenge-roth.com
www.RaceRanger.com
