Willie Smit has been disqualified under the UCI smart glasses rule after filming video during the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai.
The South African rider, who now races for China’s Anta-Mentech Cycling Team, recorded footage with camera-equipped glasses during competition. The decision made Smit one of the first riders caught by the UCI’s updated approach to onboard technology.
Smit, 33, said he did not know the rule had changed. He wrote on X that it was the first disqualification of his 14-year cycling career. He said the issue was “wearing glasses that record video,” adding that he was unaware of the April rule update.
He later posted crash footage from the stage on X. That post may have drawn attention to his use of the glasses during the race.
Smit argued that the sanction felt excessive. He said that, had he known the rule, he would not have posted the video. He also suggested that a warning, fine, or yellow card could have addressed the incident.
UCI smart glasses rule targets wearable race tech
The UCI revised its equipment regulations this year as race technology continues to evolve. Modern riders use GPS computers, power meters, sensors, and other connected devices during competition.
The updated rules state that devices which collect or transmit data must be mounted on the bike during a race. Smit’s problem appears to have been the location of the camera. It sat on his face, not on his bike.
Smit appeared to be using the new Oakley Meta smart sunglasses. The glasses combine a built-in camera with navigation and performance features aimed at endurance athletes.
The case highlights a grey area for racing as consumer technology moves into the peloton. Onboard cameras have become a familiar part of professional cycling broadcasts. However, the UCI has long kept tight control over how equipment enters competition.
Velon, for example, uses cameras mounted to the front and rear of bikes. Those setups comply with UCI rules because the devices sit on the bicycle rather than on the rider.
Smit questions consistency after Tour de France footage
Smit also pointed to footage shared during the Tour de France and questioned whether officials applied the rule consistently.
Velon posted a video on X saying Toms Skujiņš was “vlogging mid-race” during Stage 3. The Lidl-Trek rider used a Velon on-bike camera for an impromptu exchange with Victor Campenaerts.
There was no mention of that incident in the Stage 3 jury report. Officials have not announced a sanction connected to the footage.
The contrast matters because on-bike race footage has appeared in cycling for years. Broadcasters and teams have used it to bring viewers closer to the peloton, crashes, and tactical moments.
Still, the UCI has acted before when new technology entered racing. Mario Cipollini famously made a phone call during a quiet Giro d’Italia stage in the 1990s. Cell phones were later banned from the peloton.
The Smit case adds smart glasses to that longer debate. It also shows how quickly a social media post can expose a rules issue after a race.
Commissaires have otherwise kept a relatively low profile during the first week of the 2026 Tour de France. Aside from a stage 2 incident involving Isaac del Toro and a wrong-way bike swap, jury decisions have not dominated the race. The daily lists of fines and infractions have also stayed short.