'I was wrapped into a thorn field and they couldn't find me' – Marlen Reusser recounts her experience of being lost for an hour after a crash, as she advocates for GPS trackers

Marlen Reusser, the Swiss time trial specialist, has publicly advocated for mandatory GPS trackers in professional cycling, recounting a harrowing incident during a training ride where she crashed into a thorn field and was lost for an hour. Her call for enhanced rider safety measures comes with particular poignancy, following the recent deaths of her compatriots, Muriel Furrer and Gino Mäder, both of whom were involved in fatal incidents where their precise location and immediate medical attention were critical factors.

This advocacy is not merely a personal anecdote but a significant push for industry-wide change, highlighting a persistent safety gap in a sport increasingly defined by high speeds and technical terrain. Reusser, a multiple European champion and Olympic medalist, brings considerable weight to the discussion. Her experience, combined with the tragic losses of Furrer and Mäder, underscores the urgent need for a robust system that can pinpoint a rider's location, especially in remote areas or after a serious incident, ensuring rapid response and potentially saving lives.

While the peloton often embraces technological advances for performance, safety innovations sometimes lag. Reusser’s direct appeal, born from personal trauma and collective grief, might finally be the catalyst to move GPS tracking from a niche idea to a non-negotiable standard.