UCI enlists EVS to equip new vehicle with Xeebra multi-angle review systems

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world’s governing body for cycling, has engaged EVS to provide a newly-built van with two Xeebra multi-angle review systems.

The Xeebra-equipped UCI van – which was designed specifically to support commissaires on the UCI World Tour – was deployed for the first time this week during the fourth stage of the 2018 Giro d’Italia in Sicily.

Xeebra allows the commissaires to review the action on the road with clarity and convenience, from their dedicated van on site. Through an intuitive touchscreen, they can view up to 16 live camera angles that remain entirely in-sync. The commissaires can then narrow their view from all feeds down to one full-screen view and zoom in with a simple touch-and-pinch gesture for further detail.

The EVS technology brings newfound independence to race officials. Rather than having to ask the operators in broadcast facilities to provide them with the footage to review, investing in their own dedicated Xeebra-equipped van gives them the ability to bring those feeds under UCI’s full control, allowing for quick and accurate decision-making.

UCI is the latest international federation to recognise the benefits of Xeebra.

“The video review system, which is built on industry-leading replay technology, can be configured for any sport and we are delighted to see cycling added to the list of major disciplines that use Xeebra, along with football, basketball, rugby and horseracing,” said Stéphanie Dessart, senior product manager at EVS.

The speed and precision of the Xeebra system enables sports officials to be more reactive when a fault or incident occurs. The fair play of any competition is tainted when players and competitors bend the rules and the use of such technology helps ensure a fair game, further strengthening the credibility of the results.

Following a successful trial of the EVS technology during this season’s Monuments (Milano-San Remo, Ronde van Vlaanderen/Tour des Flandres, Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège), the Xeebra system is currently deployed with the tailored van at the Giro d’Italia, before heading to the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España, the 2018 UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, and finally Il Lombardia.

The EVS multi-camera review system will also be presented at next week’s International Sport and Innovation Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland.