Triathlon - Iowa Olypmic length Tri Q?

I just watched the Iowa Olympic length Triathalon on NBC, with several Olympic members form the U.S. and other countries. The bikes all appeared to be regular road bikes with clip on aerobars. The one top guy was on an Orbea that looks just like mine. I saw none of the typical TT bikes. Is it because of the odd nature of the course? Or what?

ITU style, draft legal racing is like a road race. Their aerobars can't extend beyond their shifters and have to be bridged(which means no shifters). Because of the pack riding involved in draft legal riding they ride different types of bikes.

Personally, I think it's a joke that draft legal riding is the Olympic race. Long distance, non-drafting racing is the birth of triathlon, the public identifies it, and it is by far the most popular. I really hope that non drafting racing finds it's way into the Olympics.

It is weird that the vast majority of tri's are non draft races (including the IM's) and the Olympics allow drafting.

It was decision made when tris were welcomed to the olympics because the ITU thought it would make for more exciting finishes and thus more viewer friendly.

I saw the drafting, and thought that was strange as well. Funny thing is, those guys weren't very good at it. It looked alot like the local cat 5 race.