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

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.