From Insidetri.com:
"a change in anti-drafting regulations for the pros resulted in a huge buzz. USA Triathlon head official Charlie Crawford announced that after nearly a decade of petitioning, the World Triathlon Corporation approved his request to institute the stagger rule used in many North American short-distance non-drafting triathlons.
Essentially, the pros will no longer be required to stay in a line on the right side of the road unless passing. Instead, pros will be required to stay two meters to the right or left of the nearest bike in front of them -- positioned in a staggered lineup on the road. They will not be required to remain 10 meters behind the bike in front as long as they are in staggered position.
"Under these new rules, two pro riders can theoretically ride next to one another for the whole ride, as long as they are two meters apart," says Crawford. "One of the better things about this rule is that the pro women will no longer have to drop back 10 meters and pull back in line every time they get passed by an age-group man. Pro women can ride the whole way to the left side of the road, as long as they maintain a staggered position." "
I think this is a mistake, particularly at Kona. It will allow people working together a lot of relief from crosswinds at the expense of those out front on their own. The fact that the rule requires 6 feet rather than 2 or something like that makes it better but I still think its a problem. I can also imagine enforcement problems with asking officials and racers accostomed to the 10 meter rule to go to the new rule on short notice. I'd be curious to hear what others think.
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Anyone who tells you they're as fast now as they were when they were 18...
sure wasn't very fast when they were 18.
"a change in anti-drafting regulations for the pros resulted in a huge buzz. USA Triathlon head official Charlie Crawford announced that after nearly a decade of petitioning, the World Triathlon Corporation approved his request to institute the stagger rule used in many North American short-distance non-drafting triathlons.
Essentially, the pros will no longer be required to stay in a line on the right side of the road unless passing. Instead, pros will be required to stay two meters to the right or left of the nearest bike in front of them -- positioned in a staggered lineup on the road. They will not be required to remain 10 meters behind the bike in front as long as they are in staggered position.
"Under these new rules, two pro riders can theoretically ride next to one another for the whole ride, as long as they are two meters apart," says Crawford. "One of the better things about this rule is that the pro women will no longer have to drop back 10 meters and pull back in line every time they get passed by an age-group man. Pro women can ride the whole way to the left side of the road, as long as they maintain a staggered position." "
I think this is a mistake, particularly at Kona. It will allow people working together a lot of relief from crosswinds at the expense of those out front on their own. The fact that the rule requires 6 feet rather than 2 or something like that makes it better but I still think its a problem. I can also imagine enforcement problems with asking officials and racers accostomed to the 10 meter rule to go to the new rule on short notice. I'd be curious to hear what others think.
________________________________________________
Anyone who tells you they're as fast now as they were when they were 18...
sure wasn't very fast when they were 18.