Just heard this on the PTO podcast. That’s more then 10% of the field. Although from my perspective I only saw one egregious group of riders, I did notice the penalty tent after the turn at Hawi was very crowded. It’s encouraging the at least at this race, IM was taking the rules seriously.
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Does IM disclose these anywhere? Is there a breakdown of the different types?
So PTN put their foot in their mouth after the last pod where they said no one cares (including IM) about AG’er drafting.
This number shocks me up to a point that I doubt in its validity.
Throughout the whole ride I haven’t noticed any single referee passing me going in the same direction. I was ready to point out a few blatant 1-2m drafting cases, but never happened. The penalty tent after Hawi had 2-3 riders in it only, when I was there.
Edit: maybe the vast majority of these penalties is littering? I lost that stupid plastic bottle once or twice, so must have the others…
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I didn’t see a single draft official all day!!!
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I saw 2 different penalties for drafting on way out to Hawi. Got out of water in the 1-1h05 range for M35, fair bit of crowding.
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I saw officials on moto a few times. They were very patient, didn’t bug people on hills and let them open back distance after hills. I didn’t see a single penalty handed.
Generally I didn’t see blatant drafting, more natural grouping due to terrain and officials were very reasonable. But since my wave started very late (and I rode slow), I may have missed the real drafting action.
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Also surprised by this. I was the last age group into the water and was a slow swimmer (passed lots of people on the bike and run). I saw quite a few refs but didn’t see a single penalty handed out nor anybody in any penalty tent. I saw some drafting but less than a “typical” full distance IM.
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I was 2nd to last wave, 1:08 swimmer. Lots of people around me, but didn’t see any blatant drafting. Just people passing or being passed.
Hardly saw motor bikes all day. And wasn’t sure the ones I saw were officials. Didn’t see any penalties handed out.
Saw 2 or 3 in penalty tent at Hawi after turn around. Another 2 at Waikaloa on the way back. That was about all.
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I love that! They need to make this a real threat. I have seen too much drafting, especially on flatter courses. I’ve been passed by pelotons
I was in the 35-39 AG with a sub 58swim, I would say between 60-80km before the climb to hawi I saw officials hand out at least 3 penalties and they were keeping an eye on certain people when doing multiple passes. Remember being surprised to see penalties actually being handed out
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I should add at some point, the AG waves went from 5min apart to 10min about halfway through. So for those of us who started at the back, it likely seemed less crowded.
Watching the stream there were some pretty shocking pack rats coming back into town as the pros were running
This is good to hear. I didn’t see any officials on motorbikes, and just 1-2 in the tent but generally I felt that the drafting wasn’t that bad (unlike last year in Lahti for example). That was in M40.
Does anyone know if anyone was busted for swimwear violations? I saw at least one pair of buoyancy shorts floating in a portaloo in transition, which to be honest is pretty sad that people would do that.
