The Olympic triathlon consists of a 1.5 kilometres open-water swim around Farm Cove
in Sydney Harbour, a 40 kilometres cycle and a ten kilometres run around the Opera House,
Royal Botanical Gardens and Domain. The three elements follow on one from
the other without rest.
Swimming is the first sport, making for a spectacular mass start off a
pontoon into the harbour. The swimmers follow a triangular course marked
out by buoys and ropes, and face penalties if
they cut any corners; sinners must stop for 30 seconds. Any stroke is
allowed but freestyle is the fastest and therefore most common. Indeed
other strokes are rarely seen at world level.
The cycling section follows swimming. There are six stations to handle
punctures, and competitors are allowed to carry their bikes to those
stations in case of need. Pelotons used to be banned, a "drafting zone" ten
metres long and three metres wide observed by riders. This became
impractical, however, and cyclists do ride close to each other these days.
Sitting on a rival's back wheel without taking a turn in front is, however,
frowned upon.
The running section finishes the race, with normal road running race rules
applying. Cycling and running follow a similar course; from the Opera
House, athletes will head around the shores of Farm Cove to Mrs
Macquarie's Chair, where they head along the edge of Woolloomooloo Bay,
through the Domain, past the Art Gallery of New South Wales, up to Hyde
Park, down Macquarie Street, passing the State Parliament and State Library
buildings, to Circular Quay and back to the Opera House. The cycle is six
laps and the run two laps.
During the cycling and running legs, a race official may issue a warning
with a yellow card. The athlete must stop and await the official's word to
continue. For more dangerous or repeat offences, an athlete can be disqualified with a red card. Two yellow cards during a race results in a red card and automatic disqualification.
