Welcome to Draft-Legal Racing
Welcome to Draft-Legal Racing
Have you always wanted a bit more strategy when it comes to triathlons? Draft-legal racing may be for you!
In draft-legal races, athletes are allowed to draft (ride behind) other competitors to reduce wind resistance and save energy. Riders can save as much as 40% of their energy by riding in the slipstream of the rider in front of them. Draft-legal racing is typically faster and more competitive than non-drafting races as athletes can use drafting to conserve energy and make strategic moves during the race. However, they also require a high level of skill and strategy. Athletes must be able to anticipate and react to changes in the pack and make decisions about when to draft and when to break away.
Draft-legal racing is becoming more popular across the world, especially in international and elite competition. Olympic triathlon races are draft-legal, as is NCAA competition. The next generation of triathletes will race draft-legal. What about you?
New to Draft-Legal Racing?
Learn more about draft-legal racing, including the benefits of racing in a group and rule differences between draft-legal and non-drafting races.
| Date | Event | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11 | Tritonman | San Diego, California | NTDR |
| Feb. 26 | West Creek Endurance Festival | Richmond, Virginia | AG DL |
| March 4-5 | Clermont Draft Legal Challenge | Clermont, Florida | NTDR, AG DL |
| March 11 | Sarasota-Bradenton Triathlon Festival | Sarasota, Florida | Elite & Junior CC, AG DL |
| April 16 | The Gateway Triathlon Cup | St. Peters, Missouri | Elite CC, NTDR, AG DL |
| April 16 | California Youth Triathlon | Granite Beach, California | AG DL |
| April 16 | Collegiate Club National Championships | Atlanta, Georgia | Collegiate |
| April 19-23 | USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival | Irving, Texas | AG DL |
| April 29-30 | East Coast Triathlon Festival | Richmond, Virginia | NTDR, JDS, AG DL |
| June 4 | Pleasant Prairie Cup | Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin | JDS |
| June 16 | Jenny Lee Tri Cup | Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania | NTDR, JDS |
| June 16-18 | Concreteman | Springfield, Missouri | AG DL |
| July 9 | Flatland Cup | Des Moines, Iowa | JDS |
| July 15 | Americas Cup Long Beach | Long Beach, California | Elite CC |
| August 4-5 | Zone3 Youth & Junior Nationals | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | JDS |
| October 14 | Blue Ridge Draft Legal Festival/NCAA National Qualifier | Huddleston, Virginia | NCAA, AG DL |
| October 14 | The Heartland Triathlon Cup | Springfield, Missouri | NCAA, AG DL |
| October 21 | Bearathon | Berkeley, California | AG DL |
Abbreviation Key
AG DL: Age Group Draft Legal
NTDR: National Triathlon Development Race
JDS: Junior Development Series
Elite CC: Elite Continental Cup
Junior CC: Junior Continental Cup
Collegiate: Collegiate Club
NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association (collegiate varsity)
Draft-legal events are the next big thing in multisport. This is the future of the sport.
Scott Schnitzspahn, USA Triathlon High Performance General Manager