Athlete's Guide to AusTriathlon Age-Group Triathlon Ages 16+ 2026/27

You must not use:

• artificial propulsion devices or flotation devices;
• swimwear that covers your hands or feet (socks are allowed only when wetsuits are mandatory);
• a wetsuit thicker than 5 mm;
• a wetsuit, or any part of one (including neoprene shorts or bottoms, also called buoyancy shorts), when wetsuits are forbidden;
• any clothing containing rubberised material in a non-wetsuit swim.

When a wetsuit is allowed, all components must fit your body tightly. When it is mandatory, it must cover at least the torso. Subject to the Technical Delegate's approval, an athlete may have the body totally covered (except face, hands and feet) if the material is consistent with the Race Suit definition; contact the event's Technical Delegate on or before race day.

You may use any stroke, tread water, float, or stand on the bottom or hold an object such as a buoy to rest, but you may not use the bottom or an object to make forward progress. In an emergency, raise an arm and call for assistance; if you receive help beyond resting on an object, you must withdraw.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 2.1 to 2.4 and 2.8, Appendix A.

• The bicycle or motorcycle draft zone is 12 metres, measured from the front edge of the front wheel of the bike ahead.
• The vehicle draft zone is 35 metres, measured from the front edge of the vehicle.
• Your draft zone may not overlap another competitor's, a motorcycle's or a vehicle's, except when legally passing, for safety reasons, at an aid station, entering or leaving transition, or in an acute turn.
• When passing a competitor or motorcycle you have a maximum of 25 seconds to get through the 12 metre zone. When passing a vehicle you have a maximum of 90 seconds to get through its zone.
• While your zones overlap, you must be seen to be gaining on the rider ahead.
• Once you have passed (your front wheel's leading edge is ahead of theirs), you must immediately start dropping back out of their zone before trying to re-pass.
• Breaking these rules may earn a blue card time penalty for drafting.
• If the course design and large numbers cannot safely allow a 12 metre zone, the Technical Delegate can approve a special rule with a shorter zone and passing time, which must be communicated to all competitors before the race.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 3.9 to 3.11.

These rules (3.7 to 3.13) apply to non-drafting events only.

• Illegal pass: passing on the inside (left-hand side) of another competitor may earn a blue card time penalty.
• Blocking: impeding another competitor's forward progress may earn a yellow card stop-start penalty. You can avoid a blocking penalty by safely moving to the left of the cycle lane at every opportunity. Officials consider course conditions and how close other competitors are.
• You must not obstruct or interfere with another competitor's forward progress, or jeopardise the safety of another competitor, official, spectator or member of the public.
• You must obey traffic regulations unless an event official instructs otherwise.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 1.1, 3.7 and 3.8.

In draft-legal events for age-group competitors the World Triathlon Competition Rules apply, including:

• wheels must have at least 12 spokes;
• disc wheels are not permitted;
• only traditional drop handlebars are permitted, and the handlebars must be plugged;
• clip-on bars are not permitted.

A competitor passing on the inside (left-hand side) of another competitor may receive a blue card time penalty for an illegal pass.

Draft-legal events for Elite, Under 23, Junior and Youth competitors and AusTriathlon approved teams have their own wheel, helmet and handlebar rules in rule 3.14.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rule 3.15.

Helmet

• Compulsory, and approved by a testing authority recognised by a national federation affiliated with World Triathlon.
• No alterations or additions to any part, including the chin strap, and no omitted parts (including an outer cloth cover).
• Securely fastened from when you take your bike off the rack until you have racked it after the bike leg; you cannot lock or unlock the buckle in that time. A helmet not securely fastened is a yellow card example.

Bike

• No more than 1.85 m long, and at least 24 cm from the ground to the chain wheel axle.
• An operational brake on each wheel; handlebar ends plugged, tubular tyres securely glued, headset tight, wheels true.
• Fixed-gear bikes are not permitted.
• Disc wheels or covers are allowed on the rear wheel only (the Event Organiser or Technical Delegate may change this for safety, such as high winds). The front wheel must be of spoke construction.
• Equipment added to reduce wind resistance (fairings, screens, items inserted into the front of your suit) is prohibited.
• Hydration mounted on parts that rotate around the steering axis (such as extensions or base bar) is limited to 2 litres combined. Rear-mounted hydration is limited to two bottles of 1 litre each or less.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 3.3 to 3.5 and 3.12.

• Race suit: any type made of 100% textile material. In the swim it must not cover your hands or feet and must not contain buoyancy material such as polyurethane or neoprene. On the bike and run it must cover your torso; a front zip may be undone but must stay connected at the bottom. Where possible, wear it over both shoulders. A two-piece suit may have a gap between the pieces if the upper garment complies.
• Swimskins may be worn if they meet the same requirements as a race suit.
• Shoes must comply with the World Athletics Shoe Regulations for road events. You can check your shoes in the World Athletics list of approved athletic shoes (Shoe Checker).
• Bare torso: not allowed on the bike or run (and you may not cycle or run without shoes).
• Race number: display it clearly at all times on the bike course, and on your front at all times on the run course. Not complying may earn a yellow card stop-start penalty, but you will not be penalised if the official thinks the number was lost unintentionally.
• Swim cap: if the Race Director provides a cap, wear it on the outside of all other caps. From the June 2026 edition it must be worn for all swim legs.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 1.1(o), 1.1(p), 2.7, 3.1, 3.6, 4.2, 4.3 and Appendix A.

• Mount your bike after the mount line, with one complete foot on the ground after the line. Dismount before the dismount line, with one complete foot on the ground before the line.
• Rack your own bike only at your designated rack location, in a stable position, by the seat or by both brake hoods.
• Keep all your equipment at your rack location.
• Do not interfere with another competitor's equipment. If you accidentally do, put it back in its former position and state before carrying on.
• Marking your position in transition is forbidden. Marks and objects used for marking are removed and you are not told.
• Only equipment you will use in the race can be left in transition. Remove all other belongings before the race starts.
• You may have a bare torso only when moving from the swim exit to your transition area (or from your transition area to the swim entry in a multi-swim event).

Mounting before the mount line and dismounting after the dismount line are examples of yellow card infringements.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 5.1 to 5.7, Appendix B.

• Warning (no card): an official can warn you about a possible or unintentional minor infringement where no advantage has been gained. You are asked to change your behaviour and continue straight away. Failing to correct it may lead to a card.
• Yellow card (stop-start): a minor infringement. You serve a stop-start with a technical official and may resume only when told. Examples: mounting before the mount line, dismounting after the dismount line, blocking, a helmet not securely fastened, deliberately not wearing the race numbers provided.
• Blue card (time penalty): served with a technical official or in the next bike penalty box. Examples: drafting and an illegal pass. The penalty is 2 minutes if the bike course is 90 km or less and 3 minutes if it is over 90 km.
• Multiple blue cards: you must serve each one but may finish. On a bike course under 80 km, two or more blue cards may lead to disqualification by the Head Referee after the race. On 80 km or more, three or more may.
• Red card: a major infringement. You do not serve a time penalty and may finish; the Head Referee rules on it afterwards. Examples: outside assistance, not completing the entire course, failing to obey an official, using gloves in the swim.
• Failing to report to the penalty box to serve a card may result in disqualification.

You may complete the event even if shown a card. In the penalty box you may not use the restroom (unless the official allows it for an urgent matter), adjust equipment or do bike maintenance.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rule 11 and Appendix B.

• Event officials and volunteers: assistance is limited to the authorised provision of drinks, nutrition and medical needs.
• Other competitors: assistance is limited to drinks, nutrition, pumps, tyres, inner tubes, puncture repair kits and the repair of equipment for safety. A competitor may give another competitor in the same race an item of equipment as long as the giver can continue their own race.
• Anything else is outside assistance. This includes mechanical repairs (except where an event official or official mechanic instructs or guides you to repair or adjust equipment so you can continue safely) and a replacement wheel or wheels once the event has started. Giving an item that leaves the giver unable to finish may result in both competitors being disqualified.
• You cannot physically assist another competitor's forward progress on any part of the course; this may result in both being disqualified.
• On the run, you cannot be accompanied by non-competitors, team members, team managers or pacemakers on or alongside the course, or in the finish chute, unless a special rule approved by the sanctioning officer or Technical Delegate allows it.

Outside assistance is listed as an example of a red card infringement.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 1.4 and 4.4, Appendix B.

Yes. A competitor may protest against the conduct of another competitor (including the equipment they used), a technical official, a coach or any accredited personnel, or against decisions made by the Head Referee or the competition results. Protests must follow the protest procedure in Appendix G of the rules.

If the Race Competition Jury dismisses your protest, you may appeal to the National Sports Tribunal. The only ground of appeal is that the protest procedures were not followed sufficiently, to the extent that you were denied a fair hearing. The appeal must be in writing, state the ground precisely, and be lodged with the AusTriathlon Chief Executive Officer within 48 hours of receiving the jury's decision.

A protest against a disqualification for not serving a time penalty is decided on whether the penalty was correct for the violation, not on the disqualification itself.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 12 and 13.