Bike Drafting Penalties
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Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2004-12-11 9:07 PM |
New user 25 | Subject: Bike Drafting Penalties Due to the fact that during my first to tri seasons i only raced in small field races 100-300 people, I've recently signed up for the St. Anthony's triathlon with 3,000 participants. I need to read up on a drafting rule. I entirely understand that sucking the wheel of the closest rider ahead of you is a distinct advantage as well as a DQ but will i get penalized if some dumb idiot in the BOP with me starts drafting off of my back wheel?> |
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2004-12-11 9:50 PM in reply to: #91596 |
2004-12-11 11:13 PM in reply to: #91596 |
Subject: RE: Bike Drafting Penalties Are the rules different for the ITU series that has been on OLN? I see the lead pack always working together and taking turns pulling. |
2004-12-11 11:28 PM in reply to: #91596 |
Expert 936 Westchester County NY | Subject: RE: Bike Drafting Penalties Yes. ITU events allow drafting. It's their way of trying to make traithlon more spectator friendly. Personally I'm not fond of it, but as long as there is no drafting in age group racing, the pros can do what they want. |
2004-12-12 6:26 PM in reply to: #91596 |
Pro 3870 Virginia Beach, VA | Subject: RE: Bike Drafting Penalties I used to think the no drafting rule was silly, but after watching all the ITU races on OLN I realized that allowing drafting on the bike really makes it all about who is the stringest runner. Someone can lead the swim by a significant amount and easily get reeled in by the chase pack on the bike since they are working together. So someone who was out of the water in the middle of the pack and is an average biker (but hooks up with the 1st chase pack) can catch up to the leader and win the race if he/she is a strong runner. I'm more in favor of triathlon being a completely individual sport. The strongest combined swim/bike/run athlete should win the race. |
2004-12-13 9:36 AM in reply to: #91596 |
Expert 798 Potomac, Maryland | Subject: RE: Bike Drafting Penalties I agree that the emphasis on triathlon should be on the individual's athletic ability. I am against drafting and favor the USAT's approach. However, the ITU I think not only wanted to make it more spectator friendly, but realized that it was impossible to effectively enforce the no drafting rule throughout an entire course on every single competitor. |
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2004-12-13 1:48 PM in reply to: #91903 |
32 | Subject: RE: Bike Drafting Penalties Even ITU doesn't allow drafting for run-of-the-mill, age group races. Drafting is allowed on the World Cup races that you see on TV (it would be easy to give drafting penalties to anyone in a televised race, since the pro field is so small, but it's not as sexy for spectators as seeing a clump of bike flying around a criterium-style course!) As for St.A's, here's a description I've heard, which covers the drafting rules: * Ride right, and keep 3 bike lengths between you and the bike in front of you. * If you get closer than 3 bike lengths, you're now in the draft zone. You have 15 seconds from the time you enter the zone until you complete your pass, on the left. The pass is complete when you get your front tire in front of the bike you're passing. Always pass on the left. * If you have just been passed, you must drop back 3 bike lengths, out of the other bike's draft zone, before attempting a repass. To remember this, I shorten it to: "Ride right, stay back 3. Pass left in 15. When passed, drop back 3" |