Say goodbye to the yellow flag - Baloise Belgium Tour agrees professional cycling has outgrown it

A major safety innovation will make its debut at the 2026 Baloise Belgium Tour (June 17-21), with race organizers introducing digital warning systems for mobile marshals. The new technology combines high-visibility flashing LED signals with a powerful audible alarm, designed to alert riders and support vehicles more effectively to hazards ahead.

According to the organizers, the system aims to significantly improve reaction times within the peloton and throughout the race convoy, enhancing safety in increasingly fast and complex race environments.

"For us as an insurer, safety and prevention are part of our core mission," said Liesbeth Laureys, Director of Marketing & Development at Baloise. "The Baloise Belgium Tour provides an ideal platform to demonstrate how innovation can help reduce risks. These solutions not only protect riders today but can also contribute to safer roads in the future."

Race Director Jan Nys of Golazo Cycling believes the initiative represents an important evolution in race safety. "Rider safety remains our highest priority. While the traditional yellow flag has served the sport well for many years, modern professional cycling demands greater visual and audible clarity. This digital warning system allows mobile marshals to communicate dangers more effectively and sets a new benchmark for race operations."

The initiative builds on a series of safety measures introduced during the 2025 edition of the Baloise Belgium Tour, when organizers deployed fixed digital warning panels and innovative impact-absorbing finish-line cushions to better protect riders in high-risk areas. Those measures were positively received by teams and officials and formed part of a broader strategy to modernize race safety.

The latest developments have been created by Safe Cycling, the Norwegian cycling safety specialist within the Golazo Group, in collaboration with Metec. Together, the companies continue to develop practical solutions aimed at reducing risks both in competition and on public roads.

The introduction of digital marshal signage also reflects a wider trend across professional cycling. In recent years, governing bodies, race organizers and technology providers have invested heavily in rider safety innovations. These include improved barrier systems, enhanced race radio communications, GPS-based rider tracking, gearing restrictions, and stricter safety protocols introduced by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).