News Release

DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE/May 1, 2008

Boise State Researchers Say Triathlon Time-Out Penalty May Not Deter Drafting

Geese long ago learned the benefit of flying in the wake, or draft, of another goose — thus the ubiquitous “V” formation seen in the skies each fall and spring. When triathlon bike racers employ the same tactic, it’s known as drafting and incurs a penalty. At the most elite levels of competition, the infraction earns a four-minute penalty — one minute added to the racer’s final time, and three minutes of forced rest between the bike and run legs.

This long-standing penalty is based on the assumption that the shortest transition from biking to running is the most beneficial to the athlete. That assumption, however, failed to stand up to scrutiny by two Boise State researchers. Kinesiology professor Werner Hoeger and former graduate student Michelle StanWiens found instead that athletes appeared to benefit from the rest and actually improved their performance in the subsequent run.

The researchers found that as a result, the four-minute penalty became on average a two-minute 25-second penalty— possibly not enough to deter the illegal behavior. Instead of imposing a rest period between legs, the pair suggests adding the full four-minute drafting penalty onto an athlete’s final time.

“I always thought it was odd that non-elite racers don’t get the penalty tent rest,” said StanWiens. “They just get the minutes added to their total time with no hope of overcoming them.” As a coach and former triathlon competitor, she was curious about how this difference affected outcomes.

The research was published in the Spring/Summer issue of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance Journal of Research, pp. 48-50.

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Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu

Boise State University’s new Finish in Four program guarantees that eligible students who follow a planned course of study can complete their degree in four years. If not, Boise State will pay for the additional required courses. More information about Boise State’s graduation guarantee can be found at www.boisestate.edu/finish4.
 

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Last reviewed on Thursday, May 01, 2008