Posted: June 30, 2006

Triathlon: Quelle Challenge Roth to enforce 10-meter draft zone

The independent Quelle Challenge Roth, the world’s largest long-course triathlon, will utilize a 10-meter draft zone enforced by officials from the German Triathlon Union during the cycling portion of the iron-distance triathlon this Sunday. The new International Triathlon Professionals Organization—led by German pro Olaf Sabatschus, who will also start in Roth—is advocating the 10-meter rule for long-distance events.

The draft zone is now seven meters at some long-course races, including at Ironman Hawaii in 2005, but many professionals believe it is not large enough to curb drafting on the bike. In Roth, the rule in recent years has been 10 meters and will stay that way both in Germany and at the new Challenge Queenstown to debut on New Zealand’s South Island in January 2007.

“The majority of pro athletes racing long course have stated with their vote on www.triathlon-professionals.org that they would prefer a 10-meter-long box measured from the back of the front rider to the front of the back rider,” Sabatschus said. “With a look at the UCI (International Cycling Union), where at time trials much larger distances between riders do apply, we really appreciate the efforts of race organizers such as Quelle Challenge Roth, Ironman Germany in Frankfurt and Ironman Brazil, who do stick to the larger draft box despite the changes at other major races."

For live coverage, visit www.challenge-live.com starting at 6 a.m. CEST on Sunday, July 2.

Quelle Challenge Roth’s sponsors include: Quelle AG, Deutsche Post AG, N-ERGIE, PRO4, Newline, Nürnberger Nachrichten (Nürnberg Newspapers), Bayrische Versicherungskammer, Erdinger Alkoholfrei, Sparkasse Mittelfranken-Süd, Arndt, Mavic, County of Roth, City of Roth, City of Hilpoltstein, Coca-Cola, Frankenbrunnen, Zeus Copy, Paladin, Hofmann, Jura Kaelte, Guttenberger & Partner, and Spedition Heinloth.

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