A couple of beers and a few hours after crossing the line down here in Gold Coast I thought I’d go online and see if split times would play out the unbelievable drafting I witnessed down here this year. While I know grousing about drafting is perhaps a non-sum game, it’s a bit too fresh on my mind to let go without a comment. As was the case in a completely non-selective bike course in Honolulu 2005, the massive packs on this two-loop, flat course were back out in force, numbering 20-40 in at least 4 distinct peletons I counted.
If you’ve got a few seconds, check out the results… for quite a few age groups pay attention the overall time at the completion of the bike. Plus or minus 8 seconds or so - that’s easily enough to account for variability in getting out of their cycling shoes and single file down the small hill and into T2. Who knows - maybe I’m crazy and taking things out of context; all I know is what I saw out there on the road.
JJ speaks the truth, in over 100 triathlons I’ve never seen drafting like this. Most frustrating was the apparent leniency of the officials. Cycling is my strength but I got caught by a very large pack which was being watched by a race official on a motorbike but very few penaltys seemed to be dished out. Penaltys were not USAT-style (just jot down a number, then add a couple of minutes later) but rather were an apparently very short stand-down with the motorbike, during which time the pack was riding away and the official wasn’t policing drafting. Despite riding 23 miles in the wind, much of it off the front of the large group, and going like the bats out of hell for the last 3 miles in order to be first to T2, about 20 guys came in to T2 together in my AG, at which point I realized I’d flown 9000 miles to do a running race.
JJ got a rougher deal, his last lap at an average of 370W (v impressive since he’s not a massive guy) bought him next to nothing compared to other Age Groups, so since 35-39 presumably didn’t come together to perhaps the extent of other Age Groups, he’s AG World Champion despite placing 41st overall. That alone is proof of the drafting effect on several Age Groups.
For a field of this size and quality a hilly bike course seems essential from a fairness point of view, and would also increase safety, there were at least a couple of very nasty large crashes, one also involving a motorbike.
Aside from the tolerance of drafting this has been a great event in a great location. The Aussies have been terrific hosts and are as friendly a bunch of folks as you could wish to meet.
Edit: typo
I think drafting has reached Global Pandemic proportions, far exceeding the swine flu. I saw the same thing today, pissed me off, I counted 4 huge groups also. I passed one going the other way and the guys in the middle were actually chatting and not even pedaling. Here’s the worst part, for me anyway. I caught up to a group of M50’s, probably 10-12 of them, 4 abreast in an echelon on the front, no one passing. Just as I caught them the only marshal doing anything today happened to catch them as well. I backed off a bit but had to hammer the brakes not to slam into the back of the group or the motorbike. So now instead of drafting the marshal creates a massive road block. The only place to go to avoid crashing was the inside so I went for it. Guess who got a stop and go penalty? Yep, me, passing on the wrong side. Absolute BS. I caught the group again about a KM later and they were right back at it. I was on pace for a sub hour ride, pretty bummed about it. Still had a PB today none the less but if it wasn’t for other people screwing around I think I would have been able to go faster. That being said, I did push pretty hard after the penalty so maybe it helped…but I doubt it.
I will go to bed tonight (after quite a few beers!) knowing that I had a PB today at a World Championships and I did it on my own. I’m very happy about that.
When I was in the Bus on the bike route tour on Thurs, my comment to folks is this race would have tons of drafting and not be safe
because of it being flat, narrow, construction,turns, etc. Well, I sure also saw the most drafting ever in my15 years of racing. Made othe
worlds I have gone to look like nothng. And many crashes.
Having the race director lie about the water temp on the Aquathlon on Weds, and have folks swimming in cold water w/o wetsuits should
have the RD removed. One of our racers ended up in medical with hypertherma.
For whatever reason, I can’t find the details I remember reading but… I am certain that I read that next years AG Worlds were going to be “Draft-legal”. I read enough to be convinced that I was going to have to spend the money on an ITU legal bike for my son. It is apparent that these (Gold Coast) were in the non-drafting format so why the change for next year? I spent a few minutes trying to find the info I had read but to no avail.
To expect anything less than massive drafting at a race this flat and this congested is unrealistic. I had a couple of athletes racing there and my advice to them was to ride as clean as possible and be tactical - dont waste efforts pulling a big group of your competittors only to have them smack you on the run cause they have fresher legs. I was in Vancouver last year and it was the same thing. I guess some triathlons will come down to the run. Just like Clearwater - worlds will always likely be a triathlon with a run focus. Thats the way I would prepare for it. Kudos to all you folks down there that finished. Enjoyed watching you finish online.
Great Race, JJ! You can’t tell me the drafting took you by surprise though, it’s been a given there is drafting at worlds since I’ve been in this sport.
That’s why I tell anyone who talks about ITU races to me they are talking about another sport. I mean, there could be interesting races, even with a draft legal format but you would have to choose other bike courses than the ones selected. By getting the sport into the city they have (as seen in all the men’s races but one) effectively eliminated the possibility to win the race because of strong cycling skills.
By now anyone should have recognised that and simply should stay away from those races. There are enough hilly and selective races where one can have pure, draft free racing.
Doug, congrats on your 2nd AG. How’d that :02 happen? I didn’t see your runs splits, so I don’t know where you were along the way. That really stinks about the drafting; I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the splits into T2 for the 40-44s. What a joke. Hope you enjoyed the trip in any case.
Congrats on your 2nd place finish Doug. Too bad about the drafting. A hillier course and less athletes in the race would make for a much better race, it’s a shame really.
Another congrats on your finish! Drafting does suck when its illegal. Did not go through all the post but was the race over sold and cramped? Might at least explain some drafting for a second or two. Again great job!
So I’mheaded down to Perth for the LC Worlds October 25. It is also a flat course. This is not as big a race (entrant-wise) as the Short Course but probably lends itself to drafting as well. I’ve studiously avoided drafting in the past (having had the official put the timer on me a couple of times at this year’s Tuscaloosa Age Group race has reinforced that).
But what practical advice might an athlete headed to race in Perth consider in terms of the probability that drafting will occur? Just curious.
The non-drafting rule was a joke. Got passed by 3 or more big cycle groups on my 1hr 5mins out there. Would see them coming from up to 2kms out.
The course and ITU officials didn’t help, but really the athletes were the ones cheating themselves. I don’t get as riding in a pack isn’t fun to me and with a TT bike I would feel stupid sitting up.
There was a big thread on the same topic on the Aussie transitions tri forum.
No more ITU age races for me. Still plan to follow/watch the elites though.
It was still alot of fun in Aussie at the worlds though when exceptions are made for the ager triathlon.
G. www.Triathlonshots.com
Think of it from an officials perspective. If you were on a motorbike and you saw that there is no way a person could avoid drafting, because of the sheer number of cyclists on the same stretch of road, then just blend into the crap, but when you have a chance to move up the field on a hilly or technical section - go for it. If you think you are drafting, but not alone because you are cruising along with every other person in the field - then dont waste your energy and get all worked up about trying not to group ride. But the second where you are getting an unfair advantage by sucking along with someone that is obviously stronger than you - then you will and should get a drafting penalty. Again - the notion of penalizing a drafter is to treat everyone fairly. So my advice to you - be super strong on the bike so that you can sieze an opportunity and get away from your competition without pulling a bunch of people along. But if you are working really hard and are just being the sacrificial lamb - fall back and save yourself for an all out run. Good luck at Worlds. Swim Strong, Bike Smart, and Run Fast!!
While I have never nor could ever reach your level of racing, the drafting feels the same to people who don’t condone it. The window dressing of USAT officially pushed me into cycling full time this year. Now when I do an ITT it’s…an ITT.
I still enjoy the camaraderie and info. of ST though!
If cycling is your strong suit which it is for me…it’s hard to pay money to pull guys around a bike course with no apparent penalty.
