# Part 10: Events (World Triathlon Competition Rules)

Triathlon · Part 10: Events · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/triathlon/laws/part-10-events/)

Water quality, heat and the WBGT flags, current and lightning, start wave sizes, split age-group waves, bike course and support-team rules, start times and cut-off times.

## 10.101 Safety and Environment

Water testing and water quality decisions, heat and the WBGT flags, heat decisions, current and lightning.

### Test 1: Testing the water

- Samples come from three different locations and are analysed separately. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.1 a (i) (Events))
- The poorest of the separately analysed results determines whether the swim can go ahead. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.1 a (i) (Events))
- Both sea and inland water need a pH between 6 and 9. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.1 a (i) (Events))
- E. coli is the best indicator for inland water; enterococci are the best for sea water. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 e (Events))
- For sea water the enterococci count is the preferred indicator. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 e (Events))
- Results received more than seven days after sample collection are not accepted. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 a (ii) (Events))
- Strong greenish colour, turbidity and transparency under 0.5 m require the cyanobacteria test even without visible scum. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.1 a (i) (Events))
- Tests are due two months and seven days before, plus one on the first day for statistics only. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 a (i) (Events))
- Two days, four days, then a week: the last is the hard limit for a result to count. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 a (ii) (Events))
- The poorest result decides, so the one sample over the limit settles it. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.1 a (i) (Events))

### Test 2: Water quality decisions

- Decisions combine the visual sanitary inspection, water quality analysis and weather forecasts. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 b (Events))
- Visibility of more than one metre is expected, unless natural circumstances reduce it. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 c (Events))
- The inspection checks for oil, smell of phenol, abnormal colour, garbage, discharges, bird colonies and algal blooms. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 c (Events))
- The World Triathlon Technical Delegate and/or the assigned Medical Delegate check the water quality indicators. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 c (Events))
- At level 3 or 4 the swim proceeds only if the Events' Water Quality Evaluation Panel permits it by simple majority. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 h (Events))
- Levels run from 1 (very good) through 2 (good) and 3 (fair) to 4 (poor). (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 f-g (Events))
- Out-of-limit results cancel the swim unless World Triathlon's Medical and Anti-Doping Committee permits it. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.1 a (ii) (Events))
- Level 1 very good, 2 good, 3 fair, 4 poor. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 f-g (Events))
- Analysis and inspection give a level; at 3 or 4 the panel decides by simple majority. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 f-h (Events))
- A simple majority of six means at least four votes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.2 h (Events))

### Test 3: Heat and the WBGT flags

- All WBGT measurements are taken at the finish area. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 a (Events))
- Measurements run every 30 minutes from three hours before the start. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 a (Events))
- Readings start three hours before the start of the competition. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 a (Events))
- The device sits in direct sunlight 1.5 m above the ground. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 a (Events))
- Black above 32.2 C is extreme; red very high, orange high, blue moderate, green low. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 b (Events))
- Below 25.7 C the risk is low and the flag is green. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 b (Events))
- The Medical Delegate or, if absent, the Race Medical Director measures the index. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 a (Events))
- The five colours climb from low to extreme risk. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 b (Events))
- The WBGT index is measured at regular intervals, converted to a flag and announced in writing. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 a-b (Events))
- 31.0 C falls in the 30.1-32.2 C band: very high risk, red flag. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 b (Events))

### Test 4: Heat decisions, current and lightning

- With a red flag and adequate medical cover, standard distance changes to sprint; sprint and shorter stay as planned. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 c (i) (Events))
- Sprint is already the shortened format, so under red it keeps its planned course. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 c (i) (Events))
- Without adequate medical assistance under a red flag, the competition must be rescheduled. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 c (ii) (Events))
- At extreme risk (black flag) sprint and standard races must be rescheduled or cancelled. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 d (Events))
- The Technical Delegate may change the swim distance or cancel it because of current or other safety concerns. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.4 a (Events))
- With lightning approaching, the race is stopped, the venue evacuated and athletes taken to a safe area. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.5 a (Events))
- Activities may resume thirty minutes after the last lightning. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.5 a (Events))
- Up to orange nothing changes; red turns standard into sprint; black means reschedule or cancel. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 b-d (Events))
- Stop, evacuate to a safe area, then wait thirty minutes after the last lightning. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.5 a (Events))
- All three conditions of the red-flag rule are met here, so the distance comes down. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.3 c (i) (Events))

## 10.102 Technical Rules

Start wave sizes, split age-group waves, bike course, transition and support teams, start times and cut-off times.

### Test 1: How many start together

- The start limit for WTCS elite races is 55. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- World Cups allow 65 elite athletes per start. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- Middle and long distance allow 500 age-groupers per start; standard and shorter allow 200. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- Middle- and long-distance events allow 100 elite athletes per start. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- The Technical Delegate may apply lower limits than those indicated. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- Long-distance races may have larger groups for water starts after Technical Delegate approval. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- The limits exist to ensure the safety of the athletes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- 55, 65 and 100. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- Elite World Cup fields are the smallest here; age-group limits rise from standard to long races. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))
- Standard and shorter age-group waves hold up to 200 athletes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 a (Events))

### Test 2: Splitting an age group into waves

- Both or all waves get a similar number of athletes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (i) (Events))
- Athletes of the same federation are split randomly across the waves in similar numbers. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (ii) (Events))
- The champion is the athlete with the quickest time, whichever wave they started in. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (iv) (Events))
- The results contain the athletes of both waves sorted by times. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (v) (Events))
- The waves of the same age group start one immediately after the other. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (vi) (Events))
- Waves of a split age group do not include athletes from a different age group. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (vii) (Events))
- Single athletes, and the extra one from odd numbers, go where they keep the waves balanced. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (iii) (Events))
- Even waves, back-to-back starts, one combined result list. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (Events))
- Athletes of one federation are spread evenly and at random; the odd one out keeps the numbers balanced. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (ii)-(iii) (Events))
- 2:03:48 beats 2:05:10, and waves do not matter for the title. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.6 b (iv) (Events))

### Test 3: Bike course, transition and support teams

- The Technical Delegate determines the position of the mount and dismount lines. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.7 a (Events))
- A 10% tolerance is accepted with the Technical Delegate's approval; middle and long distance allow 5%. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.8 a (Events))
- In middle- and long-distance events the tolerance is limited to 5%. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.8 a (Events))
- Middle and long distance: one penalty box every 30 km; standard and shorter: one every 10 km. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.8 b (Events))
- People entered as coaches or medical staff must complete the Anti-Doping Education course. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.9 a (Events))
- With a quota of 3 or higher, different genders must be represented, or the quota drops by one. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.9 b (Events))
- Support personnel are approved seven days before the event; no additions are allowed after that. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.9 e (Events))
- Elite teams get 2, 3 or 4 coaches as the number of athletes grows. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.9 b (i) (Events))
- 10 km, 30 km and a 40 km standard bike course. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.8 b (Events))
- Forty kilometres divided by ten gives four boxes; two is not enough. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.8 b (Events))

### Test 4: Start times and cut-off times

- WTCS sprint races need 1 h 45 min between the two genders; standard distance needs 2 h 45 min. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.10 a (Events))
- In triathlon and duathlon middle and long distance, 5 minutes separate the starts. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.10 a (Events))
- Elite events after age-group events start only once the age-group events have finished. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.10 a (Events))
- The gap may be reduced if men and women will not be on the bike segment at the same time. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.10 b (Events))
- With fewer than 10 athletes in one event and enough officials to watch for drafting, the gap may drop to five minutes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.10 c (Events))
- The Technical Delegate may determine a cut-off for the whole race or any intermediate point. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.12 a (Events))
- A cut-off time must be announced at least 30 days before registration closes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.12 b (Events))
- 5 minutes, 1 h 45 min and 2 h 45 min. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.10 a (Events))
- Setting it comes first, and athletes must know it well before entries close. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.12 (Events))
- Counting back 30 days from 1 June lands on 2 May. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 10.12 b (Events))

Sources: World Triathlon Competition Rules, January 2025, Part 10 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the rules, not reproduced)

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