# Part 16: Team and Relay Events (World Triathlon Competition Rules)

Triathlon · Part 16: Team and Relay Events · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/triathlon/laws/part-16-team-and-relay-events/)

The kinds of team event, results and entries, team declarations, check-in, transition, the relay exchange, relay penalties, the finish and age-group mixed relays.

## 16.161 Team and Relay Events

Team event types, entries and declarations, the exchange, relay penalties, the finish and age-group mixed relays.

### Test 1: Kinds of team event

- A mixed relay team has four athletes, two men and two women, each covering a complete race. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 a (Team and Relay Events))
- Each member covers a complete aquathlon, triathlon, cross triathlon, duathlon or winter event of their own. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 a (Team and Relay Events))
- Time is continuous from the first member's start to the last member's finish; timing does not stop between athletes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 a-d (Team and Relay Events))
- In the 2x2 mixed relay a team of one man and one woman each race twice. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 b (Team and Relay Events))
- Corporate teams have three athletes of any gender: one swims, one bikes and one runs. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 d (Team and Relay Events))
- The team time adds the three best times of one nation and gender; a tie is broken by the third member's time. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 e (Team and Relay Events))
- The 3x format keeps the team to one gender. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 c (Team and Relay Events))
- Two athletes, three athletes, then four athletes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 (Team and Relay Events))
- The first athlete swims, the second cycles and the third runs, with the clock running throughout. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 d (Team and Relay Events))
- The team time is the sum of the three best times of the athletes from the same nation and gender. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 e (Team and Relay Events))

### Test 2: Results, entries and team declarations

- When more than one team per federation is allowed, only the best-placed one is listed and eligible for medals and prize money. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.3 a (Team and Relay Events))
- In 2x2 mixed relays the two best teams per federation are listed and eligible for medals and prize money. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.3 a (Team and Relay Events))
- General eligibility rules apply and the minimum age is 15. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.4 a (Team and Relay Events))
- Athletes competing under the World Triathlon flag may not be included in any team. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.4 b (Team and Relay Events))
- The team coach declares all athletes and one reserve per gender at a given time the day before. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.7 a (Team and Relay Events))
- All competing athletes and one reserve athlete per gender are declared. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.7 a-b (Team and Relay Events))
- Teams not submitting the declaration form in time are removed from the start list. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.7 c (Team and Relay Events))
- Declarations close the day before; two hours before the start the coach may still change the order among declared athletes. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.7 a, d (Team and Relay Events))
- One reserve, age 15, and a field that may not be cut below 18 teams. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.4, 16.7 (Team and Relay Events))
- The maximum is 25 teams; the TD may set a lower limit, but never below 18. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.4 c (Team and Relay Events))

### Test 3: Check-in, transition and the exchange

- All team members must check in together. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.8 a (Team and Relay Events))
- Team members can use the same bike. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.8 b (Team and Relay Events))
- The exchange takes place inside a 15 m exchange zone. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.10 a (Team and Relay Events))
- The incoming athlete uses their hand to contact the body of the outgoing athlete inside the zone. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.10 b (Team and Relay Events))
- An intentional exchange outside the zone disqualifies the team; an unintentional one costs 10 seconds. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.10 c (Team and Relay Events))
- If the exchange is not completed, the team is disqualified. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.10 d (Team and Relay Events))
- In 2x2 events athletes may reorganise equipment and bring tools or parts to repair the bike, but the frame cannot be replaced. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.9 b (Team and Relay Events))
- Athletes wait until called into the 15 m zone, and the exchange is completed by the incoming athlete's touch. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.10 b, e (Team and Relay Events))
- Inside the zone there is no penalty; an accidental exchange outside costs 10 seconds; a deliberate one means disqualification. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.10 c (Team and Relay Events))
- An unintentional exchange outside the zone gives the team a 10-second penalty in the penalty box. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.10 c (Team and Relay Events))

### Test 4: Relay penalties and the finish

- Relay time penalties are 10 seconds long. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 a (Team and Relay Events))
- Penalties for missing the briefing or starting early are served by the first athlete in Transition 1. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 b (Team and Relay Events))
- Other penalties may be served by any member of the team who has not yet completed their portion. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 c (Team and Relay Events))
- Such infringements are notified immediately and personally to the athlete and served on the spot. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 d (v) (Team and Relay Events))
- Notifications posted after the deadlines are considered invalid. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 d (Team and Relay Events))
- Only the last team member is allowed to cross the finish line. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.12 a (Team and Relay Events))
- First-leg infringements are notified before the second-leg athlete finishes the second segment. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 d (i) (Team and Relay Events))
- An early start is served in T1 by the first athlete, most others in the penalty box, and late last-leg offences on the spot. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 b-d (Team and Relay Events))
- Only the last team member crosses the finish line; the team's time runs from the first start to that finish. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.2 a, 16.12 (Team and Relay Events))
- An early start is paid for straight away, by the opening athlete at their first transition. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.11 b (Team and Relay Events))

### Test 5: Age-group mixed relays

- National Federations may enter a maximum of 10 teams per age category. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 a (Team and Relay Events))
- In age-group mixed relays all teams are listed in the results and eligible for medals. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 b (Team and Relay Events))
- Timing chips are distributed at check-in to the transition area on the day of the competition. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 f (iii) (Team and Relay Events))
- Teams are entered without names; the composition and order, with reserves, are declared two days before. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 e (ii) (Team and Relay Events))
- Athletes may be replaced from the reserve list, but moving athletes between teams is not allowed. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 e (iii) (Team and Relay Events))
- Drafting is permitted between athletes of the same gender. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 h (Team and Relay Events))
- One member may pick up the team's race packet on the day before the competition. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 f (Team and Relay Events))
- Entry without names, declaration two days before, reserve swaps 19:00-20:00 the day before, and chips at check-in on race day. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 e-f (Team and Relay Events))
- Entry limits come first, packet pick-up is the day before, and check-in together happens on race day. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 a, f, g (Team and Relay Events))
- The day before the race, between 19:00 and 20:00, athletes may be replaced from the reserve list. (Source: World Triathlon Competition Rules (January 2025), 16.13 e (iii) (Team and Relay Events))

Sources: World Triathlon Competition Rules, January 2025, Part 16 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the rules, not reproduced)

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