Cyclist disqualified for smart glasses at Tour of Qinghai

South African professional cyclist Willie Smit has been disqualified from the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai for wearing video-recording smart glasses during the race's opening stage, marking the first such disqualification under a new international cycling rule. The 33-year-old rider, competing for the China AntaMentech team, was removed from the 120.6-kilometer sprint stage in Xining on July -12, 2026, after officials enforced a regulation prohibiting wearable recording devices not mounted on the bicycle.

The rule in question, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regulation 1.3.006 bis, was implemented in April 2026. It authorizes the use of image-capturing devices only if they are fitted to the bicycle itself, unless specific discipline regulations permit wearable devices. Video-recording glasses are not covered under this authorization, making them a forbidden onboard technology device. The stipulated penalty for such an infraction is elimination or disqualification.

Smit took to social media to express his frustration, stating he was unaware of the new regulation. He posted that it was his first disqualification in a 14-year professional career. He argued that a lesser penalty,...