MVH Tri Club is fortunate to have a BTF triathlon Race referee as one of it’s members – Mick Skivington. Mick was asked to clarify the BTF rules on Drafting and when are penalties applied. Mick’s note below really helps.
As a British Triathlon race referee or a Technical official as we are now named I started using the Draft zone display as seen in the photo, at races I was officiating at to help educate competitors by showing a visual display of what the cycle draft zone looks like in competitions up to and including middle distance events.
The draft zone is a rectangle measuring seven metres long by three metres wide which surrounds every cycle on the cycle course.
The front edge of the front wheel defines the centre of the leading three metre edge of the rectangle. A competitor may enter the draft zone of another competitor but must be seen to be progressing through that zone. A maximum of 15 seconds is allowed to progress though the draft zone of another competitor. If an overtaking manoeuvre is not completed within 15 seconds, the overtaking cyclist must drop back.
Time penalties and DQ’s will be issued by the referee for infringements. Under new guidelines it is not required for the referee to inform you until the event is completed.
When a competitor is passed by other competitors it is his or her responsibility to drop back out of the draft zone of the overtaking competitor. A competitor is passed when another competitor’s front wheel is ahead of his or hers.
If a competitor is frequently passed by or seen to be frequently passing the same competitor this will be seen as working with, or drafting off that competitor and will be subject to the same penalty as drafting.
2 minute time penalty
Is given for:
- 1 violation noted by a motorcycle official or
- 3 violations noted by a static marshal
Disqualification
Is given for:
- 2 violations noted by a motorcycle official or
- 4 violations noted by a static marshal or
- 3 violations noted by a static marshal and 1 violation noted by a motorcycle official
LONG DISTANCE TRIATHLONS
The draft zone for long distance events is a rectangle measuring ten metres long and three metres wide. A maximum of 30 seconds is allowed to progress through the draft zone of another competitor.
ITU EVENTS
For competitors competing in ITU events at all distances, the draft zone has been increased this year to Twelve metres long and three metres wide. A maximum of 20 seconds is allowed to progress through the draft zone of another competitor
British Triathlon have produced a poster explaining the drafting rules which can be found here
http://www.britishtriathlon.org/britain/documents/events/liverpool_2013/drafting_poster_final.pdf
Any queries about drafting or any other Triathlon rules please feel free to contact me any time.
Mick Skivington
