How are drafting penalties given in non-drafting events?

Q: How are drafting penalties given in non-drafting events?

Rules 3.7 to 3.13 apply to non-drafting events only. Draft zone: 12 metres from the front edge of the front wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle. A competitor has 25 seconds to pass through it. For a race vehicle the zone is 35 metres, and a rear competitor has up to 90 seconds to pass a forward vehicle. Overlap: one competitor's draft zone may not overlap another's, except when legally passing, for safety reasons, at an aid station, entering or leaving transition, or in an acute turn. Passing: the rear competitor must be seen to be gaining at every instance of overlap. Once passed (the leading edge of the passing front wheel is ahead of the passed bicycle's front wheel), the competitor must immediately drop back out of the draft zone before re-passing. Penalty: failing to follow these may result in a blue card time penalty for drafting. Course conditions and proximity of other competitors are considered. Professionals: must move safely to the side of the competitor being passed and stay there while passing (no slipstreaming), or risk a blue card. Related: passing on the inside (left) may bring a blue card for an illegal pass, and impeding another competitor's forward progress may bring a yellow card stop-start for blocking. The Technical Delegate can approve a special rule with a reduced draft zone if the course cannot safely fit 12 metres, and it must be communicated to all competitors before the race. Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules June 2026 v1.2, sections 3.7 to 3.11.

Question

Accepted Answer

Rules 3.7 to 3.13 apply to non-drafting events only.

Draft zone: 12 metres from the front edge of the front wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle. A competitor has 25 seconds to pass through it. For a race vehicle the zone is 35 metres, and a rear competitor has up to 90 seconds to pass a forward vehicle.
Overlap: one competitor's draft zone may not overlap another's, except when legally passing, for safety reasons, at an aid station, entering or leaving transition, or in an acute turn.
Passing: the rear competitor must be seen to be gaining at every instance of overlap. Once passed (the leading edge of the passing front wheel is ahead of the passed bicycle's front wheel), the competitor must immediately drop back out of the draft zone before re-passing.
Penalty: failing to follow these may result in a blue card time penalty for drafting. Course conditions and proximity of other competitors are considered.
Professionals: must move safely to the side of the competitor being passed and stay there while passing (no slipstreaming), or risk a blue card.
Related: passing on the inside (left) may bring a blue card for an illegal pass, and impeding another competitor's forward progress may bring a yellow card stop-start for blocking.

The Technical Delegate can approve a special rule with a reduced draft zone if the course cannot safely fit 12 metres, and it must be communicated to all competitors before the race.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules June 2026 v1.2, sections 3.7 to 3.11.