Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

Vision

A partnership built on continuous innovation

Continuous innovation has always been critical to A.S.O.’s success. With a focus on creating new and exciting fan experiences, they’ve worked with NTT DATA as their Official Technology Partner for the past eight years to digitally transform the world’s greatest cycling race.

Together, we have introduced new and innovative technology solutions every year to ensure that the fans, wherever they are, feel like they’re at the roadside in France. Starting in 2015 with the live tracking of cyclists, which enabled us to deliver real-time data to broadcasters, we’ve continuously explored ways of enhancing the fan experience and delivering greater business value to A.S.O.

Supported by a globally distributed team, we grew the solution from data processing and analytics in real time to building an entire real-time environment with edge computing and artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities that connect all parts of the race. From the edge of the network - which in this case, are the sensors attached to the back of the saddles.

This data not only enables a new level of storytelling on social media, broadcast and an ever-growing range of digital channels but also gives A.S.O. a complete view of race operations, allowing them to make more informed data-driven decisions in the fast-paced world of professional cycling.

Transformation

Delivering a real-time view of the world’s greatest race

The routes taken by the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift traverse some of the most remote parts of France each year.

This hyperdistributed environment presents a unique and expansive network challenge, which extends to keeping fans located across the world engaged and informed.

In this challenging environment, we’ve had to explore the limits of what is possible. By capturing data from cyclists and race vehicles and building a digital twin of the entire event, we can now provide real-time insights to fans and race organizers alike.

We have put in place a data platform that provides the foundation for the Tour de France and allows us to create the world’s largest connected stadium by combining real-time data and additional data sources with the power of data analytics and AI.

The raw data gathered from tracking devices is processed by our cloud-based data analytics platform and sent back to broadcasters, commentators, race officials and the Race Center website. The machine-learning models that power this platform have been developed by data scientists and cycling specialists and evolve continually to provide an even more accurate picture of the race.

This data is used to deliver enhanced, data-driven storytelling to the global fan base through social media updates and broadcasts. We improve the fan experience with new visualizations and stories every year.

The data also powers the Tour de France Fantasy League, which is another way for the fans to engage with the race. This year, we’re introducing the Tour de France Femmes Fantasy League, featuring daily predictions from the AI-powered #NTTPredictor along with rider profiles so fans can get to know them better.

While the initial aim of the partnership between A.S.O. and NTT DATA was to revolutionize how fans interacted with the race, new technologies have changed the way A.S.O. manage the race operations. The power of networks, edge computing and the cloud now enables them to make faster decisions informed by real-time data.

The digital twin of the event takes data from a range of sensors – including those on the bicycles, in race vehicles and others at the race venues – to deliver an unprecedented, real-time view of the race and key race locations such as the start and finish zone. This allows the operations team to integrate and act on information that was previously available only in siloed systems or not at all.

In 2023, we’re also using this data to power our digital human, which presents a lifelike human avatar on a kiosk to fans. The avatar, named Marianne, can interact with fans, providing both real-time and background information about the race. This year, Marianne will also include ChatGPT integration to enhance her capabilities and broaden her scope of reference.