You would have to have your head in the sand to not know that this topic has become very hot lately. I have a proposal for drafting enforcement at Ironman races where people are trying to qualify for a spot at Kona (this could also apply for those trying to qualify for Clearwater).
At an Ironman, there are now 2,500 athletes trying to qualify for 72 Kona Spots with maybe as many as 10 Marshals trying to police the bike course. It’s a numbers game. At IMAZ I saw the Marshals, and I saw the groups of riders, but what I didn’t see were a lot of people in the penalty tents. I’m sure there were penalties given out, and I wondered how many athletes were penalized, then I wondered “how many of those few that were penalized were actually trying to qualify for Kona”?
In reality, there are not 2,500 athletes trying to qualify for the 72 Kona spots. There are probably only about 10% (250) of the athletes who have a realistic expectation of getting a Kona spot (even if its 20% this proposal will still help). Why police the riders who’s only goal is to finish an Ironman, or to improve on their previous best time and know they have no chance at getting a Kona Spot? It is time to stop trying to police 2,500 athletes with 10 Marshals, and focus on the athletes who are trying to qualify.
My proposal is that on the application, the athlete checks a box to indicate whether or not they are racing for a Kona spot, and give these athletes a very visible number (different from the other athletes), and other visual indicators that the athlete is racing for a Kona spot. A Marshal could then ride up to a group of people and quickly determine if there was anyone in the group who was racing for a spot. If they spot one or more, red cards are issued. If no one in the group is racing for a spot, they don’t waste time following and policing this group. If they ride upon a group with multiple riders trying to get spots, they can stay and penalize any and all riders not following the drafting rules.
This proposal costs almost nothing to implement, and will make it more fair to the racers trying to get to Kona. I encourage the WTC to consider my proposal. If you agree, please send them a letter supporting it.
I was thinking about eating the people who draft re: Johnathan Swift’s modest proposal, but I want to come up with an actual solution to the problem that can be implemented. Sorry to disappoint.
I might a bit out of my league here (since I JUST do duathlons) but are’nt Kona slots determined by your AG rank in the final results? So if you check a box saying you are trying to get KQ, and you play by rules and finish out of contention, would it mean the slots would only be alloted to just the ones who “checked the box”? What if you don’t check by the box, play by rules, have a fantastic day, and get a KQ?
I don’t think yor proposal would work. “Aw shucks.” (wink wink, nudge nudge) I wasn’t trying for a Kona slot. I had a perfect day. Things just couldn’t have gone better. I’d like to thank (insert long list here). It just wouldn’t be fair to them if I turned down this slot…
Find a group with 12 riders in it. Checking all 12, finds no KQ numbers, and move up the line.
A KQ athlete who swims slow, but rides fast, catches the group. He’s riding faster than the group, but doesn’t have the legs or space to get past the group and stay clear. So he can ride illegally, or ride at a slower speed behind the group but legally.
A KQ athlete out front gets sucked up by the same group. Once again, the KQ can’t stay off the front, but gets held back by the peleton.
More slow riders, whether KQ or not, get sucked in by the peleton.
Another marshall catches up with the group. This time they have to look at 20 riders to see if there are any KQs in the group.
The bottom line is - if you don’t deal with the group when it’s smaller, it will continue to grow, and cause even bigger problems.
Peanut, no solution is going to be perfect, but the current solution of 10 Marshals trying to police 2,500 riders is NOT working, period, end of sentence.
I have a question to everyone who can only find reasons solutions don’t work, instead of trying to find real solutions that do. Why is drafting legal in the swim? Is it because drafting during the swim isn’t effective, or is it because enforcement is virtually impossible? I would argue that the current enforcement of the bike course, as it is currently administered, is equally ineffective as trying to enforce no drafting on the swim; it is not administered fairly across all participants, and results in inequity in the sport.
I would think that a rider who’s only goal is to finish in 16 hours would not, and should not be a concern to a Marshal when policing the bike course. Apply the limited resources where they can be the most effective. Its simple economics.
If WTC thought drafting was a problem, they’d have solved it a long time ago by committing the resources to it. But races sell out in hours, 2500 slots at over $500 each, with no sign of slowing down. The product continues to move.
So there really isn’t a problem. It’s simple economics.
The only solution to the problem is the allow drafting. I’m sure I’ll get flamed for it but there really hasn’t been a good solution. Staggered TT start helps but that’s just ‘helps’.
Not that I support the rule, it would basically change the sport to basically a run. Guys like Lieto or Stadler wouldn’t get enough of a lead off the bike, and the runners could just suck wheel with specialists who agree to blow up on the bike for them.
You’re making a huge assumption that everyone wants to go to Kona. What about the top AGers who are contending for a podium and couldn’t care less about the slot? Or who’ve already qualified in a previous race? You’re saying they don’t “check the box”, therefore they aren’t policed??? Your proposal can’t fly…not in it’s current form at least.
I’m all for harsher penalties…first offence = 20mins, 2nd offence = no eligibility for category placing nor Kona, 3rd offence = instant DQ (or DQ at the end of the bike leg). If you can come back and place/qualify from a 20min stand down then you probably deserve to be amongst it. Second offence shows some intent to draft thus intent to cheat (or you’re very very unlucky, or more likely, stupid). Third offence you’re just being a nuisance and a danger to others.
(edit: to be clear, 20mins means a stand-down period in the next penalty tent…2nd offence should read another 20mins + no eligibility, etc)
I totally agree with you. Just get rid of the no drafting rule. Although I would ban tri bikes and use the ITU rules for clip-ons.
It would actually make people take swimming seriously b/c getting out of the water later means you have less likely hood of getting out with the faster people who will work to maximize the gap.
I think the bike portion would be a lot more fun with more strategy at work
If that is your solution why not just have 2 seperate races?
BTW, as olddog reports, there is no real issues with drafting at WTC events. Yes there is a ton of drafting, but in the eyes of WTC, they could really care less. Of course WTC will come out and say they are working at fixing drafting, all the while raking in all the money that the race gets. In sports it’s called “coach speech”.