Don't they TT anymore for triathlons?

[weiyun]

Just saw the Olympics triathlon on TV today and noted that they were riding regular road bikes. What's going on? I thought they only do TT bike.

[mikesbytes]

Permitting drafting destroys the concept of Triathlons. It becomes a running event

[jimmy]

drafting is legal in Olympic Triathlons, I have no idea why the rule is changed for them though.

A standard Triathlon, drafting isn't allowed.

James

[fenn_paddler]

Permitting drafting destroys the concept of Triathlons. It becomes a running event

I think the concept is still there - if it was just a running event we could get Craig Mottram in the pool and out for sunday rides and immediately have him at the top of the triathlon tree.

I think the event is about not having a particularly weak swim or bike leg (but you don't have to be the best), knowing how to conserve energy in the first two legs, and most importantly knowing how to run fast off the bike. Snowsill's 33:17 10km run off the bike in that humidity and with the wrong turn and showboating towards the finish which cost time shows she knows how to do all of that well.

Cheers,
Alan

[fenn_paddler]

drafting is legal in Olympic Triathlons, I have no idea why the rule is changed for them though.

A standard Triathlon, drafting isn't allowed.

James

Most professional olympic distance events allow drafting nowadays. If they were to make it illegal at the olympics it would be difficult (and very subjective!) to police.

But it does make it boring - nothing of substance to watch until they start running. But then the first five hours of the mens road race was like that too.

Cheers,
Alan

[mikesbytes]

33:17 its been a long time since I could do that pace. I haven't even run at all since October due to my heal injury.

[timyone]

yeah in noticed them all riding in a pack with the time trial bars on! crazy!

[weiyun]

But, does anyone know why they've stopped riding TT bikes? Just regular road bike based on what I saw.

[T-Bone]

There's no point riding time trial bikes in draft legal triathlons, unless you're sure that you're going to finish the swim first and be riding alone. It's much safer riding a road bike in a bunch, better handling, etc.

The majority of triathlons don't allow drafting.

[weiyun]

Thanks.