According to our OP here, this guy should have been DQ'd from Kona.

Such a wheel sucker...http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...;;page=unread#unread[/quote[/url]]

Absolutely.... DQ, sorry but rules are rules. Not that he is a bad person just made a bad decision at that time.

You could add up every race this year that had people DQ'd for swimming with fins, cutting courses and it still wouldnt add up to the amount of drafting penalites of what 248 this year in the AG ranks. So, I again dont think you are understanding the point I was providing. But you are on a rant, so keep it up!

Cheers

Wow, you really blew me away, I clicked on this thinking it was one of your "usual" threads....nice post !!!!

Having done draftbusting, it is not as easy to catch as most people think.....especially on those that are actually "cheating deliberately" (I hate those, I really do)....Its far easier to catch those that are drafting but aren't thinking its drafting, those trying to hang onto just a bit faster rider that just passed, without thinking "drop back"....or those that think "this is a good pace", and switch off for a few minutes....I try not to be too hard on those, I really hate those that are "cheating" knowing what they do, and trust me, some are absolute draft artists......and normally the most pissed off when caught (small dinkie syndrome)

Jimmy Riccitello (head ref for kona) posted here that 243 drafters got busted during the 2012 race....My opinion have seen some pictures, that number could have been way more, but in many cases the infractions were not deliberate cheating, but a case of circumstances, with so many riders with riding ability that were in the same limited race area......short of limiting field sizes to more manageable numbers, which lets face it isn't going to happen at any WTC event, or any event that wants to survive, I think we will always see "cheaters", and we will always see "drafters"....lets try to nab the "cheating drafters", educate the Triathlete on how to race fairly......I brought a 7m length of rope to a local race, and tried to explain to athletes that this was the distance from their front wheel to the rear wheel of the next rider....even long time racers had issues with this, claiming it wasn't drafting, that the gap was too big etc.
I would encourage any athlete to take a "Rules course" even if you have no intention of becoming an offical, I would love to see Tri clubs take an active role in this with new members, making sure they know some basic rules before they toe the start line

As for the Pro draft rules in Kona.....this is a good read www.triathlon.competitor.com/2012/10/news/konas-secret-rule_63439[/quote]

Thank you.... I think maybe staggering based on bike times on the swim may work, we all know the staggering based on age does not work. I truly believe our sport needs to curb this drafting thing, it's only going to get worse not better with the current rules and enforcement.

Wouldn't it be less expensive to have a half dozen guys riding around on motorcycles?

Race Leadman Bend. 404: no drafting found

I know some of you say that we should make all races draft-legal so everyone is on a level playing field. However, draft-legal races and inexperienced cyclists in aerobars equals crashes on the road constantly and that increases the danger of the event and liability to the race organizers. So that won't happen, period.

In addition, when the pros race in ITU draft legal racing all you find is huge peletons and any breakaways are usually caught, so the entire event becomes one of who can conserve energy enough for the run. Now I don't want to get into a pissing match about how fast the pros are going and how tough it is in the peleton. The fact is that the draft-legal racing provides a faster bike split for everyone in the peleton, it allows one to conserve energy and breakaways from the pack are usually futile attempts. This type of racing is fine for the Pro's and creates a level playing field for them. However, not suitable for the average triathlon, Ironman included.

So my question is, why does the USAT, WTC and other governing bodies allow drafting to continue when it's apparent it is cheating and a voilation of the rules? The course marshall's only catch less than 10% of the cheaters and it's usually a time penalty which is a slap on the wrist. Cutting the course, using illegal PED's , a motor on your bike, using swim fins, etc would be a disqualification because it's "cheating". Even unsportsmanlike conduct can get you disqualified. Why not make drafting a disqualification too? You get caught once on the course, your DQ'd.

So it seems as if there are ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF CHEATING for the USAT and WTC. We have the technology and know how to catch these cheaters too. There are several ways, more course marshalls, actually telling the participants they will be disqualified for drafting prior to the race and the specators see these peletons go by and they could report them all. Plus, we all use timing chips and GPS so it is possible to detect if someone is within 7 meters of another rider for longer than 15 seconds.

It seems to me why this form of cheating is acceptable is because triathletes in general either allow it to happen and say nothing or they cheat themselves. So why should the USAT and WTC get tough on this type of cheating when few people complain about it.

It was apparent again in Kona that cheating is acceptable for the most part. Okay, they did bust less than 10% of the drafters but the majority got away with it. Some would say that it's only cheating if you get caught and you need to push the envelope a little to finish well. Others say that it is up to the individual to conduct ones self in a sportsmanlike manner. But as we can see in EVERY Ironman race and EVERY triathlon drafting occurs, so it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the race organizers and governing body to ENFORCE THE RULES of the event to make it a FAIR race for EVERYONE.

To those that say it's not cost effective to strong enforce drafting. I have never heard of a race losing revenues for being hard nose on drafting. Plus, if I stole a pair of jeans from a local store because I had no money and I needed them, do you think I could effectively argue to the policeman that it would be more cost effective to let me go then to process me through the judicial system.

We need to HOLD OUR GOVERNING BODIES of triathlon accountable, because we cannot hold ourselves accountable. Sad but true..:-(

You are wrong, the technology is there. I am not an electronic engineer but I've got to believe it exists or can be implemented to suit our needs.

Step 1: The idea!

Step 2: The creation!

We have already completed step 1! We are halfway there!

I would assume I'd hear from some fellow cheaters like you. You are the type of triathlete we all should hate, low moral character and low integrity.

248 drafting penalities in the AG ranks is sad.... truly sad part of our sport which we all embrace as the norm.

Why give excuses, why not fix it?

A hard line on drafting "cheating" would not mean less revenues. Show me where this has occurred? Maybe, it would piss off the cheaters and right now there are alot of them but so what. If our sport loses the cheaters it's better because of it.

Cool story bro.

How much did you get for your "Kona slot"?

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...kona%20slot;#4224734

This guy is the biggest joke on this board. I still want to see some times from this guy. He claims to be a former pro and super fast but he won't tell us who he is. I would bet any amount of money that he is fat and slow.

Nice to see someone chatting intelligently about the draft zone. Are you certain about the 7m being from front wheel of leading cycle to rear wheel of following cycle? From what I read of the Comp. Rules 5.10a and 5.10b it is most likely front wheel to front wheel...since that is the point when a rider is defined as being overtaken.