Pro athletes successfully appeal speeding disqualifications at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside
Why is there a speed limit on the Oceanside course, anyway?
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Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images for Ironman
At Ironman 70.3 Oceanside on Saturday two pro athletes – Emma Pallant-Browne and Braden Currie – were initially disqualified for “speeding” on part of the course, only to have their DQs overturned by Ironman officials after the race. Here’s some background on the incidents.
Pallant-Browne’s tough week
The British star had a tough time just getting to the race. While training in Tucson, Arizona, a week before the race, Pallant-Browne was in a bike crash that made her appearance in Oceanside questionable. Proving she is, as countryman Tim Don put it, “one tough cookie,” Pallant-Browne bounced back from the crash with an impressive runner-up finish in Oceanside.
Pallant-Browne’s big day almost didn’t happen, though. After crossing the line she was informed by officials that she’d been disqualified for going to fast on a controlled section of the course. As she outlined to Pro Tri News below, Pallant-Browne appealed the disqualification and used data from her Wahoo watch and computer to prove that she hadn’t exceeded the 25 mph (40 kph) speed limit.
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In the men’s race, Braden Currie was also initially disqualified, but was also able to appeal the decision and was reinstated to sixth. While we don’t have any details on Currie’s appeal process, Ironman did confirm that both athletes were reinstated after appealing the initial DQs.
“After the race, the athletes filed a protest per the formal protest process found in the Ironman Competition Rules,” according to Ironman. “The competition jury met and reached the decision to reinstate the athletes.”
Speed zone
The Oceanside course, which takes athletes through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, features some steep climbs and descents. In 2001, during Ironman California, an athlete named Perry Rendina died after crashing during one of the descents on the course.
“Around 1:30 p.m., Rendina slammed into a guard rail at the bottom of a hill known as Dead Man’s Curve, according to investigator Manny Fernandez of the San Diego County medical examiner’s office,” Erin Walsh reported in the San Diego Tribune. “Rendina apparently suffered head and neck injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, Fernandez said. Hewas wearing his helmet when he died.”
The athlete guide for the race makes it clear to athletes that they have to watch their speed during the descent.
On the bike course on Basilone Rd (approximately Mile 39.5) during the descent, there is a clearly defined “25 MPH SPEED LIMIT” speed zone due to Camp Pendleton regulations. This zone will start at the yellow “25 SPEED LIMIT” sign. There will also be an orange line across the cycling lane at the start of this zone. The zone will end at the yellow “END SPEED LIMIT” sign. There will also be an orange line across the cycling lane at the end of this zone. The speed limit MUST be 25 miles per hour or less on that section. Failure to comply will result in automatic disqualification!
Daniela Ryf’s tough day
A few years ago, after finishing 10th at the race in Oceanside, Daniela Ryf was also disqualified for riding too fast on that section of the course.
Describing her entire race as a “tough day at the office,” the 10-time Ironman and Ironman 70.3 world champion joked that it was “Most likely the only segment of the course I was the fastest today.”
