Individual time trial

An Individual Time Trial (ITT) is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock (in French: contre la montre - literally "against the watch"). There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials (TTT). ITT's are also referred to as "the race of truth", as winning depends only on each rider's strength, endurance and determination against the clock.

Professional time trialling

At the professional level, time trials (TTs) are frequently accompanied by motorcycles, some carrying video equipment or race officials, and riders may be followed by a team car carrying coaches and spare parts, but the cyclists are not permitted to draft behind the vehicles. Race regulations typically dictate a minimum distance behind the cyclist which the car must maintain and a minimum gap that must exist between two cyclists before the car may enter that gap.

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Individual time trials are often used as stages in stage races such as the Grand Tours; these vary from short prologue time trials over just a few kilometres, to longer distance events over flat or rolling courses, to timed climbs up mountain roads. In the 1989 edition of the Tour de France eventual winner Greg LeMond made up a 50-second deficit to runner-up Laurent Fignon in the final stage individual time trial to win the race by 8 seconds, the smallest margin ever. The Vuelta a España often features a final individual time trial in Madrid in which the winner is often decided, providing much drama and excitement at the end of the stage race. In recent years, Óscar Sevilla, Roberto Heras and Isidro Nozal have seen their lead evaporate in the time trial in Madrid.

Related Topics:
Grand Tour - Tour de France - Greg LeMond - Laurent Fignon - Vuelta a España - Óscar Sevilla - Roberto Heras - Isidro Nozal

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The Grand Prix des Nations was a semi-Classic event; professionals may also compete in the annual World time trial championship. The individual time trial is also an Olympics event in which professionals are allowed to participate.

Related Topics:
Grand Prix des Nations - Classic - World time trial championship - Olympics

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Many of the top stage racers are also top performers in the individual time trial, such as Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Laurent Fignon, Greg LeMond, Miguel Induráin, Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong. Almost all recent winners of the Tour de France have been good time-trialists, with the notable exception of Marco Pantani -- winner of the 1998 Tour de France -- who was a pure climber.

Related Topics:
Jacques Anquetil - Bernard Hinault - Laurent Fignon - Greg LeMond - Miguel Induráin - Jan Ullrich - Lance Armstrong - Tour de France - Marco Pantani - 1998 Tour de France

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