Penalties in Triathlon

Participating in a triathlon competition means venturing into a well-regulated world. Imagine being ready to give it your all, when suddenly... a warning! 👋 Don't panic, here's what you need to know:

The verbal warning: a harmless reminder

The first penalty to know is the verbal warning. In triathlon, it's a bit like a gentle whistle blow 📣: the referees indicate your bib number and calmly explain why you're being called out. An example? A poorly positioned race belt. You quickly correct it and get back on track! 🚀

Triathlon cards: yellow, blue, red!

Cards are a bit like football! The first stop is the yellow card 🟨. Things start to get a bit tricky here 😬. It penalizes minor infractions, like not properly arranging your gear in the transition zone or dropping equipment on the course 🍬. The referee stops you, explains the reason, then lets you continue once the issue is fixed. This is called a stop & go : you stop, fix it, and go back as fast as the wind! 🌬️

If you find yourself drafting on your bike 🚴, you risk receiving a blue card 🔵. Since 2020, this means a mandatory stop in the penalty box, for 1 to 5 minutes ⛺, depending on the race format. No comfort, no refreshments: just you, your bike... and the clock ticking while others go on without you 🥱.

And finally, the most severe is the red card 🔴. It's immediate disqualification. It can be given without warning for serious infractions, such as: Crossing a forbidden line Not respecting the traffic rules Displaying inappropriate behavior ⛔ This means immediate disqualification from the competition: Game over...

Good habits to avoid penalties

Remember, to avoid getting in trouble 😅.

• Pre-race briefing: listen carefully, it's like a little manual for a perfect triathlete.
• Beware of drafting: allowed or not? Make sure you know before the race 🔍.
• Equipment standards: extensions, suit... no last-minute DIY! ⏱️

If you get caught... stay calm! Arguing won't help. Accept it, serve your penalty (yes, it's like school 🎓) and continue your race with a smile 😁. In this sport, you need to be self-reliant, it's your responsibility to remember to serve your penalty. No need to act smart, the referees have eyes like a hawk 👀.

So, ready for the start? On Finishers, you'll surely find the distance that suits you, from the XS format to the Ironman! And speaking of long distance, would you like to learn more about the Ironman® circuit? Find everything you need to know on our dedicated page! 💪