In a time trial (TT), athletes start one at a time and each races their own clock. The fastest elapsed time wins. This walkthrough covers setting one up and getting the most from split times.
1. Create the event as a "Time trial"
Choose the Time trial card when you create the event. Each athlete's clock starts when they physically cross the start line, not on a shared gun, and the results are ranked fastest-first.
2. Route, start and finish
Build or upload your route and set the start and finish lines. The start line matters more here than in a mass start, because each athlete's time begins the moment they cross it. Place it where athletes are up to speed and the line is unambiguous.
3. Splits with checkpoints
To get split times (and let spectators compare athletes section by section), add checkpoints along the course. Splits make a TT far richer to follow: viewers can see who's fastest on the climb versus the flat. See Comparing riders.
4. Categories and start order
Add your categories. TTs are usually run as a start list, with athletes setting off at intervals, so think about your start order and, if you use waves, set wave start times per category.
5. On the day
- Athletes start individually and are timed from their own start crossing.
- They're finished automatically at the finish line.
- The leaderboard ranks by fastest elapsed time, and gaps compare each athlete's own time, so someone who started later can still top the board.
- Watch for alerts as usual: see Handling alerts.
- If an athlete's start crossing was missed or wrong, you can set their start time by hand from the roster. It's the one-field recourse for a disputed start. See Running the event on race day.
6. After: results
Publish results, ranked by time within each category, and export a CSV. Publishing works from whatever timing data you've recorded; chip times can be brought in through Aster's results integration if you use timing kit.
Things to get right
- Start-line placement is the timing point. Each athlete's clock begins at the start crossing, so make the line clean and consistent for everyone.
- Use checkpoints for splits. They turn a TT from a single number into a segment-by-segment story for spectators.
- Elapsed time, not finish order, decides it. The first person to physically finish isn't necessarily the winner; the fastest time is.