How fair is it to have a Team Time Trial in a cycling tour? How much control does the top rider of each team actually have in managing his team to be specialist in the TTT? Should TTT time gaps be real or nominal?
The Tour of Toowoomba, one of Australia’s most prestigious National Road Series races, held a 27km Team Time Trial last week, around the beautifully rolling wheat fields of Toowoomba, and it was awesome.
It was the pure challenge to every team, there were no more pretenders after that race, every team was ranked, ordered, put in place.
The hierarchy of strength was established and it was fantastically refreshing.
In the Tour of Toowoomba, the TTT shook the GC so vigorously that the Huon-Salmon-Genesys team ended up taking the top four spots overall. No kidding, first through fourth.
Good on them though, because they are a mean beast of a squad, with several riders capable of winning uphill or in an Individual Time Trial.
But the domination of their team certainly led to an inability for riders of other teams to potentially battle for the overall top spot, namely the Charter-Mason climber Matt Clark, who lay second prior to the teams event.
Cycling has always been a team sport though, even the first Tour de France riders were associated with various sponsors, and teammates would work together when racing (usually).
Resources are pooled, and in using the same masseuse, spare wheels, service vehicle, and bike mechanics, sponsors get more bang for their buck.
Cycling, even with one winner, therefore has an innate ‘team’ heritage.
I am curious though, of whether this justifies one rider being either benefitted or in detriment from his team’s capability. Enter politics.
The addition of a Team Time Trial all of a sudden changes the required ‘composition’ of a rider who can win the race, not just physically strongest, but organised and in control of their team.
Politically speaking, this is where (the late) Lance Armstrong strung his finest cords.
He was a man in control of his team, and consistently he controlled the fact the team had the latest time trial technology, his riders had the latest aerodynamic positions, and his men were all physically up for a true TTT smash-fest.
LA wrangled his team – through political measures – into a TTT powerhouse.
Not all teams can do this though. For example, no matter how badly Samuel Sanchez wanted it, he wouldn’t be able to convince his Euskatel-Euskadi managerial board to oust all their little-Spanish climbers for a tightly, time trial-honed unit.
That wouldn’t please sponsors or the Basque government, and that’s really all that matters. Maybe the team just can’t afford the required riders.
Commercially speaking though, TTT stages are massively beneficial as well. All the fruit bares itself.
The latest in carbon-fiber technology, the forefront in aerodynamic theories, relentlessly shaving a few seconds off the item’s annual predecessor. This stud is great for business through your average weekend warrior.
It’s no strike of a genius to realise our sport flourishes on the commercial viability of the products we endorse, and sleek, carbon, latest-tech paraphernalia sells well.
So TTT’s sell. They’re also a beautifully pure expose of team strength, put on show for all to see, which is awesome to watch.
Is the event inclusion too ‘politically magnetic’ though? Is it just a matter of the general classification rider making sure he has a team with him who is drilled for the TTT, or do sponsors, dollars, or ulterior motives play too big of a role in rider selection?
I think so, but as my good friend Jono Lovelock often says “life isn’t fair, get over it!”
Follow Adam on Twitter @adamsemple
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
An interesting idea to base it on places rather than time gaps. My main qualm with something like 15-10-5 sec bonuses for placegetters, though, would be the lack of incentive for any of the lower teams. Scoring the entire field (35, 30, 26, 23, 21, 20..... 1) could work, though.
Bones506
Roar Guru
You do get a massive advatange on a TT rig. When I did TOSW I moved from 35th into 9th. I was moving people down on road bikes. Tri bars on a road bike do help but a fully spec'd TT rig is a big advantage in a TT. I have spent a considerable amount of time and money on the TT rig and it is nice to race it in a 'Tour' event.
delbeato
Roar Guru
OK, but full TT rigs are also allowed in TT stages of VRS road races. If you turn up - like me - with a road bike, you're at an instant disadvantage.
liquor box
Guest
I love the TTT but it is not fair in a grand tour. I would rather each team rides, the best team gets a 15 second win bonus, the second place a 10 second bonus and third place a 5 second bonus. this way no rider is closed out of a serious opportunity to compete on the tour. I think anyone who wins a grand tour has a fair shot of picking up 15 seconds over his rivals during the tour, especially if there are time bonuses included. this is from the Giro 2013 1 Team Sky 22:05 2 Movistar + 9 3 Astana + 14 4 Katusha + 19 5 Vini Fantini + 22 6 Lampre Merida + 22 7 Garmin-Sharp + 25 8 Blanco + 28 9 Orica GreenEdge + 28 10 Vacansoleil DCM + 34 11 Cannondale + 35 12 BMC Racing + 37 13 Bardiani Valvole + 42 14 Saxo - Tinkoff + 43 15 RadioShack Leopard + 43 16 Androni Giocatti + 46 17 Omega Pharma-QuickStep + 48 18 AG2R + 50 19 FDJ + 55 20 Colombia + 56 21 Lotto Belisol + 1:00 22 Euskaltel Euskadi + 1:01 23 Argos Shimano + 1:13 If you look at the last few spots the times are at one minute or more, what chance do you have to win from here if you are a well known competitive cyclist? Is anyone really going to let Sammy Sanchez get a minute ahead of the entire peloton without pulling him back? Will he be able to win 2 stages by half a minute each over everyone else? The way that teams are now using a train mentality up hills has led to a big victory in the mountains being a win by 7-10 seconds unless you are an unknown who is 20 minutes behind in the GC or more. Keep the TTT but make it fairer.
Tinea Pedis
Roar Guru
They're one off TT's that now form a (separate) part of the VRS series. No standing or bearing on CV road series.
Jim from Toowoomba
Guest
TTT are a complete joke at NRS level. 4 genesys, and 4 drapac in the top 10. Whilst riders that were in the top 15 on the hilltop finish were never given a fair chance. Not only that but it made the racing boring, the tour was over after the TTT. Can't wait to do it all again in Adelaide. Good one cycling aus. Should def allow TT bikes and ITT's again!!
delbeato
Roar Guru
I dislike TTTs. As you mentioned, Armstrong built his team around them to a significant extent. I like seeing the lone wolves compete - guys like Cadel and even Purito who don't have the whole team behind them. On that topic and with apologies to Bones, what's with full TT rigs being available in state events?! I totally get the attraction of TTs and have no issue with TT events being held, but it's annoying to turn up to a road stage race in C grade against guys in full TT kit. Not that I'm winning anyway, but I doubt I could without spending the $$$.
Bones506
Roar Guru
After only recently acquiring a TT rig and doing my first TT I have fallen madly in love with it. Given my size and sustained W output I am suited to the discipline. You can really chew through some $$ on them. When they are fully spec'd up they look deadly. Not to mention being able to wear a onesie and a really cool aero helmet. Cycling Victoria have been really smart and offered up a full TT series over winter which is a great idea. My understanding of NRS this year is that you can't actually use a TT bike - just tri bars and a disc? The TTT would be a coll edition but agreed in that it should only be short so that one team cannot completely dominate.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Interesting article Adam. Personally I'd say TTTs are ok for the Tour and the Giro but shouldn't be included in smaller regional events - just too much disparity, as you noted. I remember the 2010 Tour of Thailand when Jelly Belly took all 5 spots, 1 through 5! The next day they lost all but 1st as a result of defending Yellow though. But even for the Grand Tours, the TTTs are usually quite short so not much time is lost. Very interesting too to consider, as you did the financial benefits of the time trials. I know a few guys here with amazing TT rigs that cost them small fortunes, and get taken out once or twice a year. An expensive toy that doesn't get played with much...