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..:-(
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..:-(
Last edited by:
trihard4me: Oct 18, 12 9:11