the USAT official explained -- technically correctly -- that when one enters the zone to make a pass, he MUST pass or be given a penalty. he not only must pass in 15 seconds, but if he finds he can't execute the pass, he WILL fall afould of the rules, that is, he can't just drop back out of the zone. he must pass. entering the draft zone only to fall back out of it results in an infraction.
now, i have to confess something, and it's not only that there is an obvious tactic that comes to mind when this rule is explained, but it's a tactic that i've used and will continue to use. when racing the santa barbara tri a few weeks ago i rode through a group of a half-dozen cyclists. riding through them caused them to wake up, and not long afterward the first-in-line of this group threatened to repass me. i didn't want to get passed, because there were at least six of them, and if i got passed by one i'd have to soft-pedal, and end up getting passed by all six, if i abide by the overtaken rule (which i always do).
so, i sped up. nothing in the rules says i can't. i didn't allow him to execute the pass in 15 seconds. a couple of aborted efforts later, he got the message, and he also wore his legs out in the effort, and i rode on.
so, technically, i not only kept him from executing the pass, i also forced him into a penalty situation. my question is, does any USAT ref actually give a penalty when one fails to overtake once in the zone, so long as this person exits the zone to the rear within 15 seconds?
secondly, if this penalty is actually given, is there any consideration for assholes like me who'll use the rule to my advantage, and speed up once threatened with a pass?
Dan Empfield
aka Slowman