Triathlon - How long has drafting been legal in triathlons?

I watched a triathlon today, appears to have been a rebroadcast event in DC from June.
Noticed they were drafting in the cycling leg.
When did drafting become legal in triathlons?

it still isn't (by USAT rules and DC is USAT sanctioned) are you sure they were drafting? You can get close when beginning a pass maybe that was the shot you saw?

There are draft legal tri's. The majority don't allow it but it seems like the number that do are increasing.

you have 15 seconds to pass.

Drafting is allowed for the professionals at some events - mostly ITU world cup events but perhaps some others, too. Events that allow drafting for AG are rare but there are a few.

Dextro Energy ITU World Cup Race. Yup. You might also notice that they all were riding road bikes with shorter aerobars that were connected at the end. Not Tri bikes.

Drafting is not legal. Depending on the race you have 15-20 seconds to pass.

Drafting is allowed for the professionals at some events - mostly ITU world cup events but perhaps some others, too. Events that allow drafting for AG are rare but there are a few.


Yes was an ITU tour event, even had the reigning olympic gold medalist.
A triathlete coworker also pointed out that drafting is legal in ITU events.
That kind of demphasizes the cycling aspect-if you aren't out of the water you can't draft with the lead group, you'll never close down on your own and you're then too far to catch up on the run.

When drafting is legal, it becomes more a Tour race (lead groups and chase groups) than an individual sport. The Chase groups usually can catch a Lead group b/c of the signifance of their "draft" allowing them to travel faster than a smaller Lead group.....given the Lead group is actually smaller than the Chase group. Otherwise, to your point, you will not catch them.

When drafting is legal, it becomes more a Tour race (lead groups and chase groups) than an individual sport. The Chase groups usually can catch a Lead group b/c of the signifance of their "draft" allowing them to travel faster than a smaller Lead group.....given the Lead group is actually smaller than the Chase group. Otherwise, to your point, you will not catch them.

Five man breakaway transitioned to run about 1 1/2 minutes ahead of the main group. The commentators did think the main group was not working together to haul the breakaway in.

All ITU triathlon events (other than than the age group world championships) and the Olympics are draft legal.

I saw that race and it sure as heck looked like drafting to me. This was an ITU event or a USAT event? Sorry I'm a little confused.

ITU, it's the dextro energy triathlon

The history of draft legal racing goes back to triathlon becoming an olympic event. Basically, the IOC didn't think that non-draft tri's were viewer friendly, so ITU agreed to use a draft legal format.

I've always hoped that eventually the olympics would have along distance non-draft race, and a short course draft legal race.

Don't be mistaken, those guys are riding hard. However, they don't ride like some of the non-draft pros like David THompson showed at Lifetime a few years ago when he came out of the water last and entered the run first. Just cruised by every pro in the race, many of whom were draft legal specialists. But at the same time, the same draft legal specialists dropped it like it was hot on the run.

So basically

ITU/Olympic = Drafting OK

USAT = No Drafting

So basically

ITU/Olympic = Drafting OK

USAT = No Drafting

With the exception of the ITU age group world championships, where drafting is not allowed, yes.