Drafting Penalty

   CAN THEY?...Yes

   DO THEY?...Not from what I've seen

   It is the spirit of the rule that matters.  Triathlons are supposed to be individual events.  I don't see someone gaining an advantage while climbing a hill.  As far as aerodynamics are concerned, gravity trumps air if you know what I mean.  however, if you were purposefully drafting u pa long gradual hill, I can see them handing out a penalty.

The officials at IM South Africa gave out drafting penalties on the uphill portions of the course this year.  May have had something to do with the 60 kph headwinds, but YES, they can and occasionally do give out drafting penalties on the uphill portions.

Then why does it always seem that everyone bunches up on uphills?

I thought once you enter the draft zone you had to pass in like 15 seconds.  I'd think uphills would be the worse.  I don't see the officials calling it often though.

Because they don't do that and drafting usually isn't enforced as strictly on uphills.

the bear - 2012-06-26 11:22 AM

tkos - 2012-06-26 9:07 AMUphill is the easiest place to avoid drafting. A quick let up of the pedal stroke and bam, you drop right back easy as pie.

Yep, right back into the draft zone of the guy behind you. Ad infinitum. Next thing you know you're on the side of the road watching a line of riders go by.

He could just do the course backwards.

the bear - 2012-06-26 11:22 AM

tkos - 2012-06-26 9:07 AMUphill is the easiest place to avoid drafting. A quick let up of the pedal stroke and bam, you drop right back easy as pie.

Yep, right back into the draft zone of the guy behind you. Ad infinitum. Next thing you know you're on the side of the road watching a line of riders go by.

Lest we no forget that draft zones are both longitudinal and latitudinal.  It's quite easy to jump to the side a meter or so, and just move back when necessary to get out of the way of passers.