Coverage of top cycling events could be heading in a whole new direction in future, following a successful test of drone camera technology at the Amstel Curacao race.
The small remote control chopper (similar technology to that pictured here) carries a camera which was used to get some action shots of the riders during the one hour criterium; race organiser Leo Van Vliet believes there are clear benefits.
“The advantage is that the camera can get closer to the riders and that the small helicopter does not make as much noise as the bigger models. The test here in Curacao was to find out how safe and shock-sensitive they are, for a good picture quality. If the test is successful, we’ll use them on the Cauberg in the final of the Amstel Gold race,” said race organiser Leo Van Vliet, according to De Telegraaf.
Aside from being the race director for both of the Amstel events, the former pro is also the Dutch national team selector, given the task of picking the team for the worlds and guiding them during the campaign. He sees another benefit.
“It would be an excellent test for 2012 when a Dutchman wins the world championship at the Cauberg,” he added, optimistically forecasting a home win.
Helicopters have been used for many years to film racing and have, on occasion, actually influenced the outcome. Francesco Moser’s win in the 1984 Giro d’Italia was based on two things: the organiser’s decision to cut out a crucial mountain stage, claiming incorrectly that the mountain pass was blocked by snow, and also by the actions of the TV helicopter.
It reportedly flew ahead of Laurent Fignon, creating a headwind, but hovered behind national hero Moser to give him a tailwind boost and help push him to success.
That’s something that is highly unlikely to happen with the new drone cameras, due to their size. They may have had a military application before, but now the sporting field looks to be moving much closer to embracing their use.