The Team Time Trial…
BY KENNETH LUNDGREN
Let’s keep the TTT simple. You have to analyze the group honestly. Who is the strongest? Smartest? Who has the most experience? Then you appoint a leader. One brain. One brain out there, everyone else just pedal hard.
The most important thing is that you all work together. Easier said than done. The event will require discipline from everyone. A rider feels good, he wants to hammer, to surge. As we all know, it’s all about riding STEADY.
It is very common, so very easy for a rider to be on a great day and will start riding harding, creating gaps, surging, dropping riders, causing the team to ultimately slow down… Too much of this, emotions get involved, the riding is very unsteady, and it’s GAME OVER very quickly… Especially in this event, it’s probably not the strongest but the smartest and most disciplined team that will win…
Keep it simple. Look to do 10-second pulls all race. If someone feels strong, the key is for that person to go LONGER not harder or faster!!! If someone is struggling, then there are two options. 1 he just pulls through 2 he stays at the back, sweeps, rests and recovers.
Egos cannot be involved here. Everyone plays their part. If Bob is hurting at the back, you can’t yell at him to pull, he’s slowing everyone down. If you can survive without him, he may recover and be able to take super-long pulls at the end when you’re spent…
If you’re hurting, don’t be Superman and try to do your full 10-second pull. You will slow the pace, crack, ultimately cause time loss… You are a rolling machine — the key is STEADY… Just pull through, get to the back…
I should also note that time trialing is as much about aerodynamics as it is about power. At 27, 28 mph, there’s a breaking point where being more aero is more important than smashing watts all over the road. Of course, drafting or lack thereof will play a HUGE role in who gets on the podium and who doesn’t. So you gotta stay tight, tight on the wheel, tight to the riders on your right as you drop back to the end of the group. Gotta be QUICK to get on that last guy’s wheels, outta the wind right away so you can recover. 1 more second of recovery, 2 more seconds of recovery, who knows how much energy you can save, how much energy you can lose… Gotta stay as efficient as possible… STAY CLOSE TO THAT WHEEL. Not always imperative to stay in the tuck. When drafting, stay on the brakes, stay low, and stay ON THAT WHEEL. Make life easy for yourself…
ONE BRAIN on the road. Everyone else puts their egos aside. Whoever has the most experience with TTs, either individual or with TTTs, they should be out there, barking orders, keeping morale up… This leader needs to step up, most likely keeping pace up and making sure everyone does their role. He typically will shout at people to get off the front or stay at the front, however he sees the situation. This leader is the guy best suited to ensure the team rides to their potential.
One guys shouts commands, everyone else follows. Keep it simple.
Four guys who ride together, ride smart, can blow apart a team of all-stars.
Ride smart, listen to your body, stay steady, PEDAL HARD, be confident — very good things can happen…
