Time trials are an individual or team event against the clock – fastest time wins. Riders often utilise the latest aerodynamic bikes, skin suits, aero helmets, low profile bars and disc wheels to slice through the air with as little resistence as possible and acheive the best time.

Time trials are usually over a distance of 10, 25 or 50 miles with some more specialist events covering longer distances or even timed events such as the 12hour where riders cover as much distance as possible in the allotted time.

Known as ‘The Race of Truth’, time trials are often seen as a true indicator of a riders ability with ‘nowhere to hide’. Stage races such as the Tour de France are often won or lost in such stages with the winners usually excelling at the discipline, examples being Lance Armstrong and more recently Alberto Contador.