Drafting Question

[Veronica]

Why is it allowed in some events and not in others? I know it has to do with what body is sanctioning the event, but what is the rationale for the no drafting rule?

V.

[Grog]

Ain't no expert, but my understanding is that on a long-course (Ironman) it's never permitted. On Olympic course it depends as you said, but generally it's not permitted for amateurs (even at ITU events). I think it's not feasible to implement "no drafting" on a lot of pro races, which have a short, spectator-friendly course with lots of turns. Drafting is nearly unavoidable. Considering the big prize money at stake, it would lead to nasty arbitration issues!!

Otherwise, my understanding is that most see triathlon as an individual, near time-trial event.

I sort of hope that drafting is never allowed in amateur races. Currently, it's the only way (beyond the odd time-trial) where amateurs can race bikes - pretty much any bike - without too much risk (pelotons are very dangerous, especially for the untrained).

[SadieKate]

I personally like to think of triathlons as one big "race of truth" trifecta (where you need a steamer trunk of courage rather than just a suitcase). There is an interesting commentary here.

http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie/antitu/overview.html

[Veronica]

We happened upon a televised race yesterday. It was the final qualifying race for the US Olympic team. It was a 90 minute show. I think the women's race got 7 or 8 minutes of coverage.

Anyway...

I've made a big deal when I've been riding with Thom about not drafting him and trying to see how far away was the right amount. So we're both watching the race and thinking they were cheating!

But then the commentator talked about how it was legal.

Thanks for the link SK.

V.

[rocknrollgirl]

The sprints that I am doing this summer are all sanctioned races and there is no drafting. They had a draft marshall on the course two weeks ago.
I would be in hog heaven if I could draft. I am so small, I could get on some guys wheel and stop pedaling altogether! You should see me with my husband, it is a riot....

[crazycanuck]

I can't think of any tri distances where i've heard drafting was legal..

I know that at the IM I helped as a tech official, it certainly wasn't! (Man is it ever hard to sit on the back of a motorbike with a headwind trying to figure out who's doing what! I think this tri season i'll still help at races but not on the motorbike! )

[alpinerabbit]

I would be in hog heaven if I could draft.....

Then you need to turn pro and race olys....

[Bron]

I understood that it was allowed in ITU world cup events, i.e. only for the pros.

One race here in Munich announced that it was going to allow drafing for everyone simply because it was too difficult to draft-bust everyone. It seemed like a really bad idea to me as this is a race where there are a lot of first-timers, many of whom are not that experienced on the bike (and lots of the decent triathletes here don't seem to do their training in a tight peleton). They announced it as a "race like the pros" type of thing.
They made this announcement a week before the event and at the same time said they would not be allowing aero-bars, disc wheels and mountain bikes with those little bars that poke forwards. I can see lots of people not being happy with being told all of this with only a week's notice.

[colby]

The Ironman Way is that triathlon is an individual sport, and drafting gives you an advantage over the person in front of you that's unfair. Not exactly riding the same race if you're using 50% (I picked a number, that's not science) less energy.

I was reading somewhere (Triathlete?) it's apparently something like 7-9 bike lengths before the affects of drafting aren't obvious... but the point where you're crossing a line seems to be 3-4 bike lengths, and they'll only "get you" if it's pretty clear that you're drafting for drafting's sake and not just going up a big freaking hill as fast as you can, or getting ready to pass, or...

The whole "individual sport" thing seems to be the crux of those kinds of rules, along with people not being able to help you along the way. Race your race, as fair as possible.