Drone footage might develop into a part of protection on the Tour de France in 2024 after a profitable pilot through the staff time trial eventually week’s Paris-Good.
Tour host broadcaster France Télévisions advised French media that “nothing has been determined however we’re serious about it”, with the remote-controlled drone pictures of riders reaching speeds as much as 60 kph within the staff time trial clearly impressing these in cost.
It was a historic second for drone footage in highway biking, as the primary time being utilized in a WorldTour occasion, with followers, groups and riders all having fun with the brand new angles and higher perspective of velocity.
“From the suggestions we acquired, all of them cherished it,” stated Forestier to RMC Sport. “Some groups even requested us to ship them the pictures.”
“Biking wants these revolutionary pictures,” agreed Julien Jurdie, head sports activities director at Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. “I find it irresistible, it’s executed in snowboarding particularly and it’s nice. We should benefit from this expertise, it’s important.”
The brand new dimensions with the drone perspective have featured in a restricted capability at smaller races corresponding to O Gran Camiño in 2023, the place it acquired up shut and private with two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in a time trial, however slightly too shut for the UCI’s liking on the time.
“The UCI is worried about the usage of drones at O Gran Camiño and is in touch with the organiser to know the organiser’s danger evaluation on this explicit case,” stated Auréile Perrod, a member of the UCI’s communications division.
Now simply over a yr on, with higher security measures and tighter restrictions established for the 2024 season, it seems these accountable for race directing are shifting in favour of drone utilization on the greatest races.
“We’re serious about it. Nothing has been determined however we’re serious about it,” stated Forestier. “There are two time trial levels on the Tour this yr, after which the stage round Troyes with the gravel paths which goes to be spectacular.
“We’ll get round to it in a short time with the UCI, ASO and the groups, and ask ourselves if it is value it. It appears to be the case, so we’re going to consider how to have the ability to try this safely.”
The remote-controlled plane with cameras seize a part of the footage at cyclocross and mountain bike races all year long corresponding to on the Benidorm CX World Cup the place Wout van Aert powered away solo to victory or the Hoogerheide World Championships.
Nevertheless, regardless of being authorised since 2022, drones have hardly ever discovered their manner into highway races as a consequence of a number of causes, together with the logistical problem of not finishing laps across the similar closed circuit, security with riders and followers, native flight rules and restricted battery life.
The UCI regulation replace which has been in operation since January 1 states that “The organiser could authorise the taking pictures of nonetheless pictures and/or video by aircrafts, together with drones or different small aircrafts, topic to acquiring authorization to function the related tools safely and securely from the envisaged location.”
That is how Michaël Gisselere, pilot of the drone used on Paris-Good stage 3, managed to seize the brand new angles on the WorldTour race. After two months of debate with the race organiser ASO, who additionally runs the Tour, and a recon of the areas two weeks earlier than the stage, he was given the inexperienced gentle.
Sure guidelines had been put in place for the Frenchman when it comes to distance from riders and solely filming from behind in particular sections, however it was an general large success and explains why it’s being thought-about for La Grand Boucle.
“It was a problem for us, we confirmed the UCI and ASO that we had been able to doing it,” stated Gisselère to L’Éclaireur de Châteaubriant. “It is as much as them to determine now. From a technical perspective, we’re prepared.”
The drone proved a fantastic accompanying choice alongside typical bike and helicopter footage, with new angles alongside and on the again shoulder of riders through the staff time trial. It could solely act as an add-on to the protection, not changing both of the established filming strategies.
“We have now to consider one of the simplest ways to place this in place. However regardless of the case, the drone stays a superb complementary means of constructing probably the most stunning product doable,” stated Forestier.
“The helicopter doesn’t inform the identical story. It’s there to point out the landscapes or to emphasise the breaks between totally different teams within the strategy of splitting. The drone will not be all the identical factor. It’s there to place us within the sneakers of the riders.”
The Tour de France, as conventional as it’s, has made strikes ahead in protection just lately, with race radio being broadcast on a slight delay. This opened up beforehand unknown moments to the followers corresponding to Tadej Pogačar telling his staff, “I’m gone… I’m useless”, when he cracked on stage 17, or when UAE Group Emirates jokingly revealed their plan, “When the crocodiles must swim, you bounce!” on stage 11.
“We have now to at all times innovate if we need to sustain with the way in which youthful audiences eat sport on TV,” stated race administration after the profitable check run of drones at one of many greatest one-week races.
⚡️ Cette vitesse ! 🤩⚡️ That velocity! 🤩#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/GmSgJldNeGMarch 5, 2024
