World Triathlon restricts watches in rule changes.

The sports governing body has just announced its 2025 rule book with changes that affect age groupers and those who use sports tech.

It’s a lengthy document, and I think the following are key changes that affect age groupers and watch/tech users.

On the start line

You must get in your starting position 20 seconds before the start and cannot change position in those 20 seconds.

Modified drafting penalties when riding

New penalty durations are approximately halved and are as follows:

• Long distance: reduced to 3 minutes
• Middle distance: reduced to 2 minutes
• Standard distance: reduced to 1 minute
• Sprint distance: reduced to 30 seconds

You don’t have to stop at the next penalty station to serve the penalty. However, you will be disqualified upon finishing. At that point, you can appeal the penalty and DSQ. #risky

Dunking, punching, scratching, or kicking another athlete will get you a deserved DQ. And smooth, short nails are mandatory.

DSQ athletes cannot start again if the race is restarted.

Race Distances

Measured bike leg distances have a 10% tolerance from the official distance (5% for middle- and long-distance events). i.e. a 20km bike leg could be 22km

Clothing

A tri-suit cannot cover your elbows; it can also not cover your knees. Thus, race number decals must be on the lower leg and lower arm, which obviously won’t apply in certain events like a Winter Triathlon.

Zippers must remain connected to the suit and cannot cause your shoulders to be exposed. Zippers must be closed 100m before the finish.

Tech

Section 4.11 Equipment (e)
Electronic devices may be used in the competition unless they are distracting the athlete from paying full attention to their surroundings.

Section 4.11 Illegal Equipment (f) Athletes must not use or wear:…… Any jewellery; deemed to be a hazard to themselves or other athletes…Watches. This non allowance applies to Elite, U23 and Junior races in Standard and shorter distances. Exceptionally the Head Referee may allow the use of watches

Section 2.1 General Conduct (xiv)
Cameras, phone cameras, and video cameras are prohibited unless permission is given by World Triathlon or the license holder of the event. If permission is granted, athletes must inform the Head Referee before the start of the competition. Athletes seen with an unauthorized camera, phone camera, or video camera will be disqualified.​

Section 8.7-8.9 Supertri E Arena Games (Virtual Racing Rules)
Athletes must not use any of their own wireless transmitting devices, such as wireless head units, power meters, or others, to avoid interference with official competition equipment.

Athletes must NOT use or wear … Watches. This non-allowance applies to Elite, U23, and Junior races at standard and shorter distances. Exceptionally, the Head Referee may allow the use of watches.

Cameras, phone cameras, and video cameras are banned for competitors unless specific permission is obtained from the race director.

So, elites can’t wear jewellery or a watch as jewellery, but an age-grouper can wear a smartwatch provided it’s not used for distracting purposes??

UCI-compliant brake lever positioning is required to be 10 degrees or less.

Rules for aero bars and disc wheels are unchanged.

You can only carry 2 litres of fluid in bottles or inside the frame.

You cannot stick your water bottle inside your tri-suit for an aero advantage, nor can any similar inserts exist anywhere else. Grrr.

Take Out for Athletes Using Watches or Bike Computers

So, if you previously liked to get an Insta of your water bottle stuffed down your tri suit, you will get DQ’d twice.

• Allowed: Basic watches and bike computers for passive data display by age-groupers(e.g., time, speed, heart rate).
• Not Allowed: Smartwatches and bike computers are used in a distractive manner (e.g., sending texts, taking calls, using social media).
• Not Allowed: Cameras unless permission is granted.
• Esports Races: Athletes must use only the equipment provided (no personal bike computers, power meters, or transmitting devices).

Source: 2025 Rule Book