Jan Frodeno was almost lost for words when Alistair Brownlee, the man who succeeded him as Olympic triathlon champion, became the first person to be handed a drafting penalty in T100 racing.
The lack of drafting penalties has been one of the big talking points during the T100 season.
The RaceRanger technology, which helps both officials and riders see when they are in the drafting zone, has been used at most races.
But until Saturday in Ibiza no one had been penalised, something the commentary trio of modern-day triathlon GOAT Frodeno, Vicky Holland and Jack Kelly had spoken about on numerous occasions.
Frodeno reacts to Brownlee ruling
Frodeno, Olympic champion in 2008 before going on to win multiple IRONMAN and 70.3 World Championships, was on the mic when the penalty to Brownlee was issued, just over the halfway point on the 80km bike section.
And he said: “I cannot believe it – the first penalty in T100 racing. Oh my gosh, really, of all the people.
“We do have the RaceRanger technology and the rules being enforced is something we’ve been asking for all season.
“Quite frankly I think that shows you a tale of the times. Because 10 years ago there wouldn’t have been many technical officials who would have mustered up the courage to make eye contact with Alistair and then shown him a card!”
Did penalty cost him a podium place?
Brownlee animated races like no-one before or since in draft-legal short course racing and he remains the only triathlete to defend an Olympic title, following his London triumph in 2012 with victory four years later in Rio.
The blue card he was shown meant he had to serve a 60-second penalty soon after and that dropped him out of what had been a lead group of six.
But he battled back brilliantly to take an eventual fourth place, 45 seconds off Mika Noodt who rounded out the podium in third. The race was won by Marten Van Riel who kicked clear of Sam Laidlow late on the run.
And there would also be a drafting penalty in the women’s race which took place afterwards as Julie Derron, who won individual silver at the Olympics in Paris, was also shown a blue card. Though she was able to make it onto the podium as she ran through the field into second place.
Alistair Brownlee reacts to penalty
Speaking afterwards though, Brownlee provided a measured reaction, taking the penalty on the chin and pleased with the fact that he stayed strong on the run to notch his highest T100 position yet despite giving up a minute to all his rivals.
He explained: “At 50km I got a drafting penalty and it was fair enough to be honest.
“I’d rolled into the draft zone and the light came on and I didn’t come out of it quick enough.
“It was a fair decision and I then rode the last lap on my own and ran just trying to catch people – and I was pleased to feel good right to the finish.”
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