Triathlon words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 22 words · Step 2 of 2

Swim leg terms

Swim contact

Accidental contact in the swim, followed at once by moving apart, is not penalised. Continuing to impede another athlete is a time penalty, and deliberate targeting, dunking, punching, scratching or kicking is disqualification.

Early start

When an athlete's foot crosses the vertical plane of the start line before the start signal. If only a few athletes do so, the start stays valid and they get a time penalty in transition 1.

See also: Transition, Penalty, Time penalty

Bike leg terms

Draft zone

The space behind a rider or vehicle in which drafting is judged, across the whole width of the road. Behind a bicycle it is 12 m long, and behind a vehicle 35 m.

Overtake

The leading edge of the overtaking bike's front wheel moves in front of the leading edge of the front wheel of the bike being overtaken. The overtaken athlete must drop out of the passer's draft zone, and the pass must be on the side the briefing names.

Blocking

Deliberately impeding another athlete, or riding off the correct side of the road so that an athlete behind cannot pass. It earns a yellow card, served at the next bike penalty box.

Wheel station

A place on the course where athletes may replace a wheel. A neutral station supplies wheels to all athletes, a team station only to its own team, and a mobile station is neutral and moves along the course. The replaced wheel must be left there.

Lapped athlete

In draft-legal elite, under-23, junior, youth and mixed relay races, an athlete who is lapped on the bike is withdrawn by the technical officials.

Run leg terms

Run rules

Athletes run or walk, wear the bib number where required, and may not crawl, run with a bare torso or a helmet on, or be accompanied by non-competitors. Elite athletes may not run with or take pace from athletes on another lap.

Penalties and officials

Time penalty

A penalty in which the athlete stops for a set time at a set place. For infringements other than drafting it is 15 seconds at standard distance, 10 seconds at sprint distance and in relays, 5 seconds under sprint distance, 30 seconds at middle distance and 1 minute at long distance. Failing to stop at the box is disqualification.

Format and rule terms

Mixed team relay

A team of four athletes, two women and two men, who race in the order woman, man, woman, man. Each does a complete triathlon, and the team time runs from the first start to the fourth finish. The exchange happens inside a 15 m zone by the incoming athlete touching the outgoing athlete's body. A 2x2 mixed relay has one man and one woman doing two legs each.

Age group racing

Competitive categories based on age brackets, common in amateur triathlon events alongside the professional race.

Cut off time

The maximum allowed time to complete a leg or the full race before being withdrawn from competition.

Draft penalty

A time penalty served in the bike penalty box after a blue card: 30 seconds in sprint and shorter events, 1 minute at standard distance, 2 minutes at middle and 3 minutes at long distance. A second drafting offence is disqualification at standard distance or shorter, and a third for middle and long distance. Drafting penalties cannot be protested.

Relay exchange

The handover between relay team members, done in a 15 m exchange zone by the incoming athlete touching the outgoing athlete. An exchange outside the zone is a 10-second penalty if unintentional and disqualification if intentional; an exchange not completed is disqualification.

Race strategy terms

Negative split

Completing the second half of a leg faster than the first, a common pacing goal in triathlon.

Pacing strategy

How an athlete distributes effort across all three legs to avoid burning out too early.

Draft legal racing

A format in which athletes may ride in each other's draft zone, subject to the rules against drafting off another gender, another lap or a vehicle. The rules table sets which categories and distances are draft-legal, including mixed relays; middle and long distance are always draft-illegal.

See also: Long distance, Drafting, Draft zone

Peak week

The final week of training before a major race, focused on tapering effort while staying sharp.

Equipment terms

Tri suit

A single piece or two piece outfit designed to be worn through all three legs of a race without changing.

Elastic laces

Pre tied laces that let athletes slip shoes on quickly during transitions instead of tying them.

Bike split wheels

Specialized aerodynamic wheels used to reduce wind resistance during the cycling leg.

Nutrition belt

A belt holding gels or nutrition for use during the bike or run legs.

All Triathlon words