Dimension Data Completes Big Data Analytics and Digital Delivery Platform for Tour De France
Dimension Data completes its big data analytics and digital delivery platform from which the company will deliver real-time information on individual riders.
This was innovated by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) in partnership with the participating teams of 2015 Tour de France. An accurate data will be collected through the use of live trackers under the saddle of each rider. Dimension Data will then process and analyse the data, and make it available to cycling fans, commentators, broadcasters and the media.
When the Tour de France begins on Saturday, the viewers around the world will be able to follow all the riders real-time, and be able to track the speed at which each cyclist is riding, exactly where he’s positioned in the race in relation to other cyclists, and the distance between each rider – all via a beta live tracking website, allowing fans to select their favourite rider to follow, monitor the race on their phone or tablet.
The 198 riders in 22 teams will generate 42,000 geospatial points and 75 million GPS readings. In addition, the live tracking website is built to support 17 million viewers and 2000 page requests per second. Data on riders will be processed in Dimension Data’s cloud platform across five continents consuming over 350,000,000 cpu cycles per second.
Dimension Data’s Executive Chairman, Jeremy Ord, said, “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.”
Brett Dawson, Dimension Data’s Group CEO said “there are multiple layers to the innovation required to deliver the solution for ASO. We needed to implement cutting edge technology in the form of advanced real time analytics and a highly contemporary digital platform that’s able to provide innovative insights into the race that have never been available before.”
Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France Director said, “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. 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.”
