TriEqual takes on women’s start times
TriEqual, the organization, "dedicated to fairness, development and equality in the sport of triathlon" is advocating for a new start protocol in all triathlon races.
"TriEqual is expanding the platform for fairness in triathlon and believes that improvements to existing start protocols will allow women to race without routine interference from other competitors," according to its press release. From the release:
"TriEqual director Thorsten Radde has analyzed the impact of start times on the women's race in Kona and in the most recent 70.3s on TriRating.com. His race time graphs show that a fair race for the professional women requires a ten minute gap to the professional men and a 25 minute gap to the fast age group men.
"'Having a ten minute gap would have avoided almost all of the problems we have seen in Oceanside and New Orleans,' concludes Radde.
"TriEqual advocates that all race directors and governing bodies in triathlon adopt the TriEqual Fair Start Protocol as closely as possible within their logistical constraints to help ensure a clean race for all triathletes."
"TriEqual proposes the following fair start guidelines:
World, National, Regional and all Long Course Championships:
• Male Professional Triathletes start first
• Female Professional Triathletes start +10 minutes
• Male Age Groupers start +35 minutes
• Female Age Groupers start +45 minutes
"For Half Course races the gaps can be shortened to 10, 25 and 35 minutes to the Male Pros.
"World, National, Regional and all Half Long Course Championships:
• Male Professional Triathletes start First
• Female Professional
• Male Age Groupers start +25
• Female Age Groupers start +35
TriEqual's release includes a quote from pro triathlete Angela Naeth:
"I am strong supporter of TriEqual Fair Starts Protocol. It showcases a simple way to create fairness in the races for both professional men and women."
And by Meredith Kessler:
"As I understand it, the vision of the founders of Ironman racing was each individual racing alone to beat the course and the other athletes. The purity of Ironman racing should be preserved. Without fair starts, the vision of the Ironman founders has been sacrificed because it is virtually impossible to race without interference on any course."
TriEqual also recommends:
• Provide women and men with equal in-water warm up availability.
• Continue to seek safer alternatives to mass starts.
• Ask fellow competitors to minimize interfering with women's races.
"By advocating smaller start groups," maintains TriEqual, "the fair start protocol also addresses concerns of some women and beginners who don't like aggressive swim starts and helps to create a more fair race by minimizing big groups on the bike."
