That is not all.
The race is intended to be a solo effort on the bike in a time trial fashion. It states in the rules that drafting is not allowed.
Reid and the other riders found a loophole in the new rules to allow them to draft.
Does that mean that it is a draft legal race? No. Did they draft? Yes.
You actually hit right on the problem with your last statement. Reid doesn’t deserve full credit because he received help during the bike portion of the race. Did he acknowledge his fellow drafters for helping him beat the racers that didn’t draft? No.
Nobody knows if he would have won without drafting.
So then ask yourself if you consider drafting part of Ironman racing and you will have the answer if Reid deserved the win or a non drafting racer deserved the win.
The race is intended to be a solo effort on the bike in a time trial fashion. It states in the rules that drafting is not allowed.
Reid and the other riders found a loophole in the new rules to allow them to draft.
Does that mean that it is a draft legal race? No. Did they draft? Yes.
You actually hit right on the problem with your last statement. Reid doesn’t deserve full credit because he received help during the bike portion of the race. Did he acknowledge his fellow drafters for helping him beat the racers that didn’t draft? No.
Nobody knows if he would have won without drafting.
So then ask yourself if you consider drafting part of Ironman racing and you will have the answer if Reid deserved the win or a non drafting racer deserved the win.