Undercover Draft Busters

it would NEVER happen.  it shouldn't be allowed because it may confuse other racers into thinking they are part of the race.  If they see one of these draft marshals riding near them...then suddenly ride up the road to the next group (you would likely need a motor or a pro level cyclist), what if they react to it thinking a podium spot is on the line?  Or worse...what if they end up drafting the undercover (legally or illegally) to bridge the gap to the next group?  A draft Marshall can't possibly call a foul on someone who is 1 bike length too close...it's too hard to evaluate while you are looking forward.  Motorcycle marshals can be part of the race while riding off to the right and having minimal impact as they can accelerate so fast as not to drag anyone in their draft.  You can't say that about an undercover.

No idea if it would work, but like the sentiment!

The draft buster becomes part of the problem. There's a concept in groups that basically says this: each person has a threshold above which they will join in on something they otherwise know is wrong, just because other people are doing it. For some that threshold is zero, others it's a low number. Once that draft buster joins in, they increase the chances that others will as well.

It's a difficult thing to catch people in the act, and it has to be something that's policed from within.

^^^^^^ this and what Jason said.  I don't think it's as hard to stop as most people make it.  Just make the penalty bigger. 

My thoughts go hand-in-hand with your other threads on the top of the page.  Less thinking.  More racing/hard training.

I've always liked the 1K run penalty loop for drafters proposal rather than a few minute stand down where they can rest and hydrate

Sorry.  Should have included a smiley face or something there.  Didn't mean it the way I see you took it.  My bad!

If a rider is getting passed by half the field, it is VERY difficult for them to judge who is drafting.  At least when judging illegal drafting vs. 'legal' drafting.

That said, and while I was half joking with my prior post, I do think this is a bad idea (with obvious good intent) for many of the reasons cited already.  The attempt to solve the problem by putting more bikes on the course and potentially impeding the race does not seem like a good trade-off to trying to catch a few extra cheats.

I'd love to see someone on a tri bike, pull up next to you on your left, pull out his pen and paper and write down your number while flashing you a red card.  That should end up well....LOL.

Kidding aside, again, this won't work for the FOP.  They generally know who's ahead of them, especially the guy who comes out of the water first.  An undercover soft pedaling ahead of the lead group is going to be pretty obvious.  

I also still don't like the idea of adding people on the course to appear as racers.  Not only can it provide real athletes with a legal draft that they shouldn't be getting, or a sling shot as the undercover drops back, but it can impact someone's decision making.  Imagine if you're in the 40-44 AG and your wife is spectating at T1 and tells you you're 5th in your AG out of the water.  You know your AG is numbers 150-200.  On the bike you pass 3 other legit 40-44 AGers so now you're in 2nd.  Then you pass the undercover guy who's number 178 and now you think you're in first.  You get off the bike (lets assume you don't see your wife for an update coming into T2) and you pace yourself accordingly looking back for your competition not knowing first is still 3 minutes ahead of you.  You dial back your run pace as not to blow up and you cross the finish thinking you've won, but you're really 2nd...45 seconds behind the guy who was still ahead...but could have passed if you didn't ease up thinking you were winning.

Draft busting drones with cameras would work, right?

ETA:  I didn't see CycloneVM's post above.  What a great idea.

Actually, the easiest way to combat drafting is to not race events that are conducive to it.  The masses have flocked to courses that are flat and fast...and people seem to like races with lots of people in it rather than 500 or less.  Those are the exact formulas for drafting to begin with no matter how much policing you have.  Pick a race course like Savageman, Wildflower, IM Nice, or the former St. George or Lake Tahoe and you get a lot less complaints.  The cream rises to the top and you get a much less congested and cleaner race for all involved.

Trying to stop drafting at IM Florida is like going to the mall on Black Friday and suggesting to the shops how to reduce the wait at the cash register.