Digital sports events with GPS: real value instead of commodity

The last few years have shown: digital sports formats are here to stay. But many digital sports events stay on the surface – generic challenges with no connection to a place, little emotion, and hardly any value for destinations, events or sponsors.

This is exactly where LaceUp comes in: as an independent platform for GPS-based sports events, LaceUp handles registration, GPS synchronisation, scoring and results presentation – seamlessly integrated into the organiser's website. The special part: every event is anchored on location. Whether Alpine pass or city quarter – the route is real, the stories are local, the effect is lasting.

GPS-based events: your event happens outside – not in the feed

LaceUp combines what athletes love:

• real climbing metres instead of virtual kilometres
• real passes, summits and villages instead of anonymous segment lists
• flexible participation windows instead of a tight start slot

LaceUp's GPS-based events work without fixed infrastructure:

• checkpoints, passes, summits or places are stored digitally
• activities are recorded via GPS and validated automatically
• start lists, leaderboards and activities run through LaceUp and can be embedded on your own website via iFrame

The result: your event becomes measurable while remaining 100% an outdoor experience.

Geocaching for sports events: playful activation with a clear goal

A strong element of LaceUp is the principle of "geocaching for sports events":
participants collect checkpoints – for example:

• all Alpine passes of a destination (https://extended.alpenbrevet.ch/)
• all host cities of the Tour de Suisse (https://www.tourdesuisse.ch/explorer/)

Every visited checkpoint creates storytelling:

• The Tour de Suisse Explorer challenge makes the stage locations and host cities actively experienceable.
• The Züri Velo Cup let hobby riders experience the world-championship course in Zurich long before the pros started.

This is not about "just ride 100 km anywhere", but about:

"Explore this region, these places, these stories."

That is regional activation with context:

• Local restaurants, hotels, bike shops and tourism partners can be tied to specific checkpoints.
• Every completed route creates a touchpoint with the region – not with an interchangeable KPI.

An autonomous alternative to Strava challenges: data ownership, brand, reach

Many people know digital challenges primarily through Strava. But whoever plans their own sports format with real marketing goals quickly hits limits. LaceUp deliberately positions itself as an autonomous alternative.

1. Data ownership

• The times and activities recorded by LaceUp are our own measurement data.
• Organisers receive a time-limited, purpose-bound right to use the relevant data (leaderboards, segment times, completed checkpoints, contact details).
• This data can be used for event communication, sponsoring reports or marketing – within the scope of the event.

2. Independence & reach

• Participants do not need a Strava profile.
• You reach athletes who are on other platforms – or, if needed, on no social fitness network at all.

3. Your brand at the centre

• Branding runs through your own website: start lists, leaderboards and activity feeds are embedded via iFrame.
• Communication (emails, badges, landing pages) carries your logo, your tone, your story.

An anonymous segment race becomes a brand-strong, legally clean and clearly measurable campaign.

Regional activation with context: from seasonal event to year-round magnet

LaceUp formats are not limited to a single event day. They can keep a region active for weeks or months.

Examples:

• Alpenbrevet Extended: the legendary road cycling event becomes a season challenge that positions the Andermatt destination as a cycling destination across the whole season.
• Long-running trophies in which guests or locals collect a region's passes, summits or singletrails.

That creates value on several levels:

1. Tourism & destinations
   • More overnight stays spread across the season
   • Plannable additional footfall for hotels, restaurants and leisure offers
2. Regional partners & sponsors
   • Visibility directly in the context of the route
   • Integrations such as "checkpoint at the local bike shop" or "badge for visiting three partner restaurants"
3. Communication & CRM
   • Automated emails at milestones (e.g. first pass, completed trophy, new personal best)
   • Audience-specific campaigns based on real activities instead of clicks

The result is regional activation with context that goes far beyond a social media campaign.

Digital sports events as a construction kit: from idea to format with character

With LaceUp, organisers do not have to start from zero. The platform offers a kit of formats that adapt to any region:

• Race for competitive audiences (e.g. downhill, hill climb, trail run)
• Trophy as geocaching for sports events with a playful character
• Tour for scenic or long-distance formats (e.g. multi-day tours, themed routes)
• Enduro for segmented scoring within one activity (e.g. bike or trail enduro)

All formats can be extended with:

• digital badges
• themed series (e.g. "Four Lakes Trophy", "City Climbs", "Family Explorer")
• seasonal or regional focus points

The result: digital sports events that are:

• locally anchored
• economically sensible
• marketing-ready and brand-capable
• and highly motivating for participants.

With projects like Red Bull Downtime, Tour de Suisse Explorer, Züri Velo Cup and Alpenbrevet Extended, LaceUp shows how GPS-based events combine real outdoor experiences with data-driven communication.

So if you are looking for an autonomous alternative to Strava challenges – with full brand ownership, a clear data foundation and genuine regional value – LaceUp is the platform for modern digital sports events.