DQd at Gulf Coast Tri
As a new member to En, I am embarrashed to write about this. But I am also in shock at having been DQd at Gulf Coast Tri in Panama City Florida this last weekend (May 8th) and would like some advise and guidance. I am in my fourth season of triathlon and have slowly moved up to IM level. I signed up for the Gulf Coast Tri because it was close to home, and I thought, would be a good test for the upcoming IMCdA.
The race went well--I had a 36 minute swim in a very rough Gulf (came out of the water 2nd out of 32 in my age group- 55-59); a good bike of 2:43 on a flat, windy course; and a little over 2:20 on the run (it was hot and humid). I felt pretty good crossing the line and receiving the finishers medal.
My times were posted without the run times. That evening, I asked why my name had been dropped from the list of finishers and was told it was a timing error and to contact Sommer Sports Timing. I wrote them when I got back to the hotel stating my run time was missing and I thought I had finished in the top ten (they give plaques at GCT for that).
The next morning, Fred of Sommer Sport wrote back and said they had my times but I had been DQd. The reason given was drafting (x2) and overtaken. My heart sank and I was shocked. At no point in the race was I notified that a penalty was given nor did an official indicate that I had been DQd.
I can not say that I am without fault, but my concern is that I do not know where it happened. I can only speculate as to when (an official on a motorcycle was falling a group of us at about mile 15 during a pass of another cyclist). He stayed behind me for a long time, but did not indicate a penalty had ocurred (if that was where it happened). For the remainder of the ride, officials whizzed by on the motorcycles and I was riding mostly by myself.
I would never intentionally try to gain advantage by drafting--I try very deligently to prevent it from happening. But, in large races, it happens when in a group (in fact, I have seen people intentionally drafting without consequence). To me, the few minutes gained are not worth it. As far as overtaken, I ride the right lane and fall back when I can do so safely. All three penalties must have happened at once.
My questions to all of you are: (1) can I find out when the penalties ocurred and how do I do that; (2) can I appeal; (3) and if I can appeal, to whom?
It is a terrible lesson to receive because I am an amateur who is doing it for a healthy lifestyle and not to win races, and it is expensive to participate only to be told after it is all over your times and effort did not count. I hope no one else ever feels the pain of a DQ.
Comments
Glenn,
That's a bummer. At least you had a good race, despite not being shown on the result list. I'd contact the race director and explain everything, see what they say.
Good luck.
Dave
Do not take it personal, I believe Coach P got a penalty once as well once. It happens and if memory serves me right they do not tell you out there at most races, you need to go to the results tent and see if you got any penalties. You finished and had a good race.
Last year, my 11th in triathlon, I received my first penalty, on the bike for being overtaken and not falling back fast enough. Luckily, it happened at an M-Dot IM (WTC). They spent a lot of political capital several years ago in a dispute with the national and international organizing bodies of triathlon to use a system so experiences like yours don't happen. Instead of secretly writing down offenders' numbers, and then applying penalty times or DQs at the end of the race - which is the USAT system - WTC officials on the motorcycle will show you a card, tell you what the infraction was, and instruct you to stop for a four minute stand down at the next penalty tent. Then they make sure you heard and understand (all while motoring along at 15-20 mph!) This way, you not only learn what you did wrong (in their opinion), but you also know exactly where you are during and at the end of the race time and placement-wise.
It sucks to get a penalty, but at least in the WTC sponsored IM races, you know where you stand while you're racing.
USAT posts penalties AFTER the race. There is very little chance of a successful appeal. I tend to pick up one stupid penalty every year. Last year I got one in a very small sprint tri for not riding to the right (the road surface was pocked with potholes on the right shoulder and right wheel car track) when there was no one within 200 yards fore or aft of me. I knew where it happened because I was only passed by one motorcycle ref during the course and they slowed there. Whenever I hear a motorcycle come up, USAT or WTC, I try to be very conservative because some of their calls are merely judgments. When you know you are being watched I recommend adding 1 more bike length to your following distance than you think is the legal amount.
I'm a USAT official, although I have limited experience on the back of a moto bike. At a minimum, these three different penalties occured on two seperate occasions. Most likely all three were seperate instances and probably different marshals.
USAT bike marshals approach from behind and observe what is happening. They document what they're seeing. They take down three id's and write down what they see.
Racer # 254 (ID 1), Red Cervelo (ID2), Black Top (ID3), riding inside of 7 meters (they don't call it drafting) for 30 secs. They then move on to the next group. Once their shift is over, they submit the list of observations to the Head of Officials. Only the Head of Offiicals hands out the penatlies. If its cut and dry. A Penalty is given. If the head of officials has questions, he talks to the bike marshal to get claifications. (USAT Pro's do a stand down)
My first race (Accenture Elite Wave) I had about 6 observations and only three stuck as penalities.
You can request the officials penality log for confirmation the penalities were applied correctly. I have a friend that was given a 2:00 penalty which pushed him outside of the qualificiation to earn his pro card. He appealed, and the penalty was applied to him by mistake. That is what they get three ID's. Dude, I don't even ride a Cervelo and I was in a green kit as an example. You must appeal within 10 days of the race being over and really only mistakening ID will be overturn.
Edited to Add: Generally the motos will sit pretty far behind and obseve for awhile, they'll move closer to get distance (drafting type stuff) but you rarely do you know they're watching. If you have a moto right on your butt chances are they're watching a group of ahead of you.
Great explanation Hayes, thank you. I still freak out when the moto is anywhere near me, but I don't feel quite as bad now since I was behind a small group of riders are Racine last year for a long time and I was sitting about 10m back and the moto was pretty much drafting off me what seemed like 10 miles or more. It sure made me nervous the whole time, but I didn't get a penatly :-)
A few tips:
Don't move left to pass until you're right on the guys tail use the full legal draft. Moving left early (tells the observer from behind you're in the zone) and he'll start the clock assuming he isn't too far back to get a feel for distance.
When being overtaken. I sit up briefly and go right back down and stop peddling for one second. Tells the offiical, I'm dropping back and I understand the rules.
The vast majority of officials are atheletes as well and we don't like handing out penalties. These generally aren't ego driven type folks. They aren't out to get you...and aside from transporation cost are volunteering their time for the most part.
I think we all freak out when a moto appraoches. I got two reactions:
1. They won't look at you.
2. Make some weird gesture like the guy in front is doing something wrong and they can't help it. Even if they're clean.
I have a friend who rec'd 12 mins in penalties and same issue- had no idea where or when they occurred. I was truly surprised to see the number of penalties assessed on that race. Don't believe I've seen quite that many in any other race recently.
@Matt- Racine has the most moto's I've ever seen on a course. I was super paranoid the whole ride!
Racine was an offiicials clinic so all new officials and officials up for recertification in the area are there...
@Hayes: thanks for the insight.
Vince
Dude...sucks, especially when I see PACKS of riders flying by me at some races. Thanks for sharing the experience though. I will surely have to watch it a bit more in the future.
This one's been around, but if you haven't seen it, a great video on drafting in IM events...
WTC over sells IM slots just like airlines do with seats. They know there will be canx, but they continue to push the numbers up without compensating on the rules. There's a three part series on drafting in triathlon on XTRI.com that recommends Tri Gran Fondos as the solution because WTC is NOT going to reduce registrations (except for the pros at Hawaii) to ensure a cleaner race.
@Mike, those were some of the sloppiest pace lines I have ever seen
, but they are pace lines. THose guys should all know that you don't use your aerobars in the line! Now you all have me really nervous. I've only done two small local tri's here that really had no officials on course and I am now picturing all the trouble that I am going to get into in Kansas next month.