Hello, in my relatively short “career” in triathlete I have operated under the impression that drafting would be called in accordance with the USAT rules which were something like:
That is, 3 bike length box, 15 seconds to pass, etc. I was also under the impression that if you entered a competitors 3 bike box but were unable to complete the pass in 15 seconds you could fall back as long as you did so within the 15 seconds.
At the IMFL pre-race meeting they made a point to clarify this:
A 4 bike length box would be used.
A 20 - 25 second time would be used (can’t remember which)
You had to fall back 4 bike lengths after being passed prior to a repass.
If you entered a competitor’s bike box, you HAD to pass. If you were to fall back, you would be in violation of the drafting.
So, in a scenario which I found happening to me frequently at IMFL, I would begin to pass a cyclist. While I was in his box, but prior to completing pass, a large group of cyclists would pass me.
They would get in front of the cyclist I was passing but slow down quite a bit and stop putting distance on us.
In this scenario, I was just wondering if there was a hierarchy or order of precedence of penalties? If I chose to complete the original pass, I would not fall back the prerequisite 4 bike lengths after being passed by the group. If I chose to fall back after being passed by the group, I would be in violation of their rule of no failed passes.
I wasn’t there looking at your bike computer so I can’t be certain.
In that situation my experience is that they were not slowing down, you were speeding up due to the draft they created.
According to the rules, your job is to complete they pass you started then fall back outside of the 4 bike-lengths from the people that passed you. The person you passed will have to fall out of your draft zone even if he has to slow down.
Yes, it sucks and that’s how draft packs start Nobody want’s to drop out of the box cuz it gets easy and they just re-pass the person in front of them.
As a USAT Official, I see this misunderstanding a lot! There are still a lot of triathletes that are racing under the very old rules–that if you cannot complete the pass you can just drop back out of the drafting zone. That USAT rule has been gone a LONG time. The current USAT rule is that if you enter the draft zone of the cyclist in front of you, your only legal option is to complete the pass within 15 seconds.
If someone passes you, then you must drop back 3 bike lengths before attempting to repass them. If you fail to drop back you are in violation of the “Overtaken Rule.” If someone passes you and slows down, you still must drop back 3 lengths. That is why it is good to not get passed. If you get passed and then drop back 3 lengths you might get passed by more and more cyclists and you then have to keep dropping back 3 lengths!!
I STRONGLY encourage everyone to READ the USAT Rules. It is amazing how many triathletes that I have contact with that have not read the rules. So many racers think they know what the rules are because they have (wrongly) heard from someone else what they think the ruels are.
The WTC (IronMan) Rules are different from the USAT Rules.
Under USAT rules, once you start a pass, you must complete it. Starting, and then dropping out the back, will get you a penalty. I believe WTC does it the same way.
USAT rules are 3 bike lengths, 15 seconds to pass. WTC rules are 4 bike lengths 20 seconds to pass.
In the multiple pass situation you talked about, you need to complete the pass you were in the middle of, and then back out ouf the draft zone of the riders passing you. Officials I’ve asked about this have said that they will sit there and give the riders enough time to spread themselves out - slower riders dropping back, faster riders moving forward and completing passes. It when everyone starts jockeying for position, and staying together, that they start handing out penalties.
So what happens when you attempt a pass but the person you are passing decides to speed up as you come up on him/her… you haven’t technically passed them yet so they don’t have to drop back, but if they speed up enough it may be impossible to pass.
Simple, you are. When you pass do it agressively. Particularly on a crowded course where the guy being passed may have to drop back a long way expect a fight.
At the Halfmax race there was once or twice I cam upon a line of riders. I rode behind the last guy legally for a while to rest before really picking it up to make sure that I could get by the group.
Not the ideal way to ride, but its a race, expect traffic.
Until you get your wheel a couple inches in front of his, it’s all on you. But since you can ride right up to his rear wheel and sling shot, it should be easy to pass.
Good point. Once you’ve gotten your front wheel just in front of the one you’re passing, you’re legal again. Now it’s all on the guy you just passed to drop back out of the zone, or get a penalty.
Nobody want’s to drop out of the box cuz it gets easy and they just re-pass the person in front of them.