Ironman aligns global rules with ITU for 2015

May 8, 2021

Ironman has released its updated competition rules for 2015, taking effect this March and designed to align more closely with the ITU’s regulations.

The rules for drafting distances, time penalties and wetsuit water temperature cut-offs will now be globally uniform at Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events:

Draft zones

The age-group bicycle draft zone is 10m long, measured from the leading edge of the front wheel and extending towards the back of the bike (five bike lengths of clear space between bikes). An age-group athlete may enter the draft zone of another athlete when passing and must continuously progress through the draft zone. A maximum of 20secs will be allowed to pass through the zone of another athlete.

The professional bicycle draft zone is 12m long, measured from the leading edge of the front wheel and extending towards the back of the bike (six bike lengths of clear space between bikes). A professional athlete must immediately move to the side upon entering the draft zone of another athlete when passing (in other words, no slipstreaming) and must continuously progress through the draft zone. A maximum of 25secs will be allowed to pass through the zone of another athlete.

Race referee cards (professional and age group athletes)

Yellow Card: Stop and Go Time Penalty
Blue Card: Five Minute Time Penalty
Red Card: Disqualification (DSQ)

Time penalties (professional and age group athletes)

First Time Penalty: Five minutes
Second Time Penalty: Five minutes
Third Time Penalty: Disqualification (DSQ)

Any combination of three cards (yellow or blue) will result in a disqualification (red card).

Professional and age group wetsuit cut-off temperatures

Professional athletes will be allowed to wear wetsuits in water temperatures up to and including 21.9C. Age group athletes will be allowed to wear wetsuits in water temperatures up to and including 24.5C.

“We have been working closely with the ITU on this initiative for the past year,” said Ironman CEO Andrew Messick. “As Ironman continues to grow globally and expand into emerging markets that have limited Federation support, it is important that we have a uniform set of rules at our races. This is a big first step for us to harmonise our competition rules, which will create a more consistent race day experience.”

@IronmanTri @CEOIronman Thanks guys, very happy about the lower wetsuit cut-off for pro’s. Much needed!

— Josh Amberger (@JoshAmberger) February 12, 2015

@IronmanTri If we can align with ITU rules, how about their commitment to equality for pro triathletes? @50WomenToKona #dotherightthing

— Sue Aquila (@fewoman) February 12, 2015

The new rules will take effect in Europe, Africa and the Americas on 1 March, and in the Asia-Pacific region between March and July. A complete download of Ironman’s competition rules for 2015 can be downloaded here.

What do you think of these newly updated rules? Let us know in the comments below!

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