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Drafting
Rating
Drafting is riding close behind another cyclist to reduce aerodynamic resistance. It can lower the required power by 20-30% at the same speed.
In detail
The effect grows stronger at higher speeds (aerodynamic drag increases nonlinearly with speed) — in group rides and cycling pelotons, drafting allows riders to save energy for most of the distance and then "launch" closer to the finish. In triathlon, drafting is prohibited by the rules at most races and is penalized.
How to use it
Check the rules of the specific triathlon in advance — at "drafting-legal" races the race tactics differ radically from "non-drafting" formats, where you need to keep your distance from other cyclists.