Background
Trackleaders has been the go-to tracking app for ultra-endurance bike races for 16 years. These races cover 300–4000+ miles of challenging terrain, with riders managing their own nutrition, sleep, and strategy over days or weeks. It’s compelling to follow but it’s also incredibly hard to watch. Limited cell service, spread-out fields, and minimal media coverage make it tough for fans, families, and race commentators to stay connected to the race.
As new race tracking competitors entered the market, I wanted to see how Trackleaders could evolve to stay relevant and evolve as competition grew.
Process
I started with a competitive audit to understand where other apps were differentiating and where gaps existed. I also mapped out different user types: casual fans, data enthusiasts, race commentators, to focus on what would actually improve their experience.
From this, I identified three opportunity areas:
Race immersion – Show what racers are experiencing: weather, terrain, day/night cycles, elevation profiles
In-context data – Let users answer questions about the race directly on the map: measure distances, compare racer stats, see speed and movement patterns
Review and recap – Big moves often happen overnight. Replay functionality needs to preserve context: time of day, weather, elevation, racer positioning
Design
I sketched solutions, wireframed layouts, and worked through micro-interactions like how to handle starred racers on the map when switching between selection states or background views.
I outlined the main sections and navigation early to keep details aligned with the core themes. I experimented with layouts that balanced simplicity and information density, tested prototyping limits for features like the replay slider, and worked through how to show different states of information like racer details, comparisons, measurements, and route data all within mobile constraints.
Design detail: Dynamic time of day
One example of how details reinforced the immersion theme: The background map mirrors the time of day at the race location. Since these races run 24/7, the day/night cycle becomes a critical factor for racers. It’s a small detail, but it creates an outsized sense of immersion. You immediately understand whether someone is climbing in darkness or dealing with afternoon heat.
Solutions
The re-design increases functionality for casual viewers, data enthusiasts, and race commentators. The major changes span three sections: Map, Analytics, and Replay. Each addresses a mix of core opportunity areas.
Map
Dynamic day/night visuals, weather overlays, and elevation profiles provide immersion into what racers are experiencing in real time.
Replay
Replay mode preserves full context: weather, daylight, and historical positioning, so viewers can catch up on key moments.
Analytics
Analytics tools across the app let users track stats and compare racer metrics from the top 10 to the back of the pack.
