Live tracking for a race where riders choose their own route between checkpoints

That format is usually called an adventure race: riders navigate between mandatory checkpoints and choose their own route. If you mean a live tracking map, Geo.Racing is built for adventure races and shows racers’ progress and checkpoint splits. (geo.racing)

For a specific race, tell me its name and I can find its live tracker.

For a race where riders pick their own line between checkpoints, the usual setup is a GPS tracker or phone app on each rider, a live map, and geofenced checkpoints instead of a fixed course. Here are the main options I found:

Platforms built for dot-watching and checkpoint timing

• Open Tracking runs live GPS tracking for ultra runs, adventure races and similar events. Its feature list includes an automatic geofence, multiple checkpoint timing, and personal split times. It also supplies the tracking platform for the Adventure Race World Series.
• Racemap works without per-rider hardware in some setups. It predicts location and speed, with AI-based corrections, for a smoother display. Its leaderboard uses checkpoints and rider GPS data, so it needs no complex timing hardware. Checkpoints can be added or moved during a live event, and results refresh within seconds.
• Tracktherace shows, for each participant, the checkpoints passed and an estimated arrival at the next one. It also gives a real-time estimated classification and per-checkpoint statistics.
• Follow My Challenge sells both the live map software and GPS devices that riders carry, with reporting intervals you can set. RunSignUp's RaceJoy offers GPS tracking for organizers and interactive course maps, and integrates with RunSignUp's registration system.

Phone-based options for riders

• Sporlyst Tracker is what Carinthia200 uses. Riders download the free app and connect it to their personal race profile, with no separate hardware. The app has an SOS button that alerts race control and shares position. It also stores the full course and checkpoints for offline use.
• TrailOn is aimed at trail and ultra runners. Organizers pay for the console, which keeps the rider side free. It batches GPS work and syncs on a schedule, so it is designed to outlast a long day on the trail.
• GPSDotWatch lets organizers set up a race with live control, checkpoints and support vehicles, private by default.

Self-routed race examples
BikingMan events are a close match. Riders must pass mandatory checkpoints in the right order, with no outside assistance, and must carry a GPS tracking system. Their positions go to a live-tracking website.

Things to check before you choose

• Is it truly live? Some products advertise live tracking but send updates only at intervals. One guide notes that most products claiming live tracking don't provide real-time position updates. Ask how often each device reports and whether that suits your race.
• Geofences versus a fixed course. Since routes vary, checkpoint timing should use geofences around each checkpoint, not a route line. Most of the platforms above support this.
• Coverage gaps. If riders go where there is no signal, look for devices or apps that store data and sync later.

If you tell me whether you're organising the race or riding it, the distance, and your budget, I can narrow this to one or two options.

Races where riders choose their own route between mandatory checkpoints are commonly referred to as "free-route" or "self-navigated" ultra-endurance races. The most iconic example of this format is the Transcontinental Race (TCR).

Because these races take place over vast distances and remote areas, they rely on specialized GPS tracking technology to monitor riders for both safety and competition management.

How Live Tracking Works

In this format, organizers do not track a fixed course; instead, they track the individual GPS coordinates of each participant.

• GPS Hardware: Participants typically carry a dedicated, rugged GPS tracking device. Common choices include SPOT Gen4 or Garmin inReach devices. These use satellite networks to transmit location data, ensuring riders can be tracked even in remote areas where cellular service is unavailable.
• Tracking Platforms: The data from these devices is fed into a specialized web platform. Popular platforms used by event organizers include:
  • Trackleaders: One of the most established platforms for ultra-endurance bikepacking events.
  • DotWatcher: A community-focused hub where enthusiasts "dotwatch" (follow the progress of) riders in real-time.
  • Other Solutions: Platforms like MAProgress, Racemap, Tracktherace, and Open Tracking provide similar dashboards for organizers to manage the event, visualize routes, and monitor rider safety.
• Smartphone Apps: For smaller or less remote events, some organizers use app-based tracking (e.g., Wayward or WHIP LIVE), which utilizes the participant's smartphone GPS. While convenient, these are generally less reliable than dedicated satellite devices in deep wilderness or areas with poor cellular coverage.

Strategic Significance

In free-route racing, the tracking map does more than just show position—it reveals the strategic route choices made by each rider. Spectators and other competitors can analyze:

• Route Efficiency: Comparing different paths taken between checkpoints to see which geography, road surfaces, or shortcuts proved faster.
• Rest vs. Movement: The "dot" on the map shows when a rider has stopped, helping observers track their sleep and refueling strategy—a critical aspect of self-supported racing.
• Safety: The platform acts as a vital safety net, allowing race directors to ensure no rider is lost or in distress, and enabling emergency services to be dispatched if a tracker transmits an SOS signal.

For a race where riders choose their own route between checkpoints, Geo.Racing looks like the closest fit: it focuses on route-choice adventure racing, tracks riders live, and can compare progress and times at checkpoints. It supports rented trackers, riders’ own satellite devices, or a phone app. ¹

Other options to consider:

• Owaka Live — geared toward outdoor and self-supported events, with live GPS tracking, checkpoints, safety alerts, and an organiser dashboard. ⁹
• Tracktherace — offers live participant locations, checkpoint progress, estimated arrival times, and race statistics. ⁴

If by “live tracking” you mean a public map for spectators, all three are relevant; if you mean a race-control and safety system, Owaka is especially worth a look. Availability and device coverage can vary by event, so confirm those details with the provider.