This preview is written by myWindsock - as featured on Eurosport’s Giro d’Italia TT commentary. myWindsock is the best tool for planning and executing a perfect TT taking into account your capabilities as a rider, the parcours and the weather! You can check myWindsock out here to pace your next time trial.
The National Circuit Championships
Situated in the heart of the South West of England, Ivybridge is a captivating town renowned for its picturesque setting. Nestled within Devon, this charming town is enveloped by undulating hills, verdant countryside, and the serene River Erme, meandering through its core. Ivybridge holds the moniker of the "Gateway to Dartmoor" due to its pivotal role as the southern entrance to the esteemed Dartmoor National Park.
Combining a fascinating history, natural splendour, and a thriving community, Ivybridge offers a delightful fusion of experiences. The town boasts a storied industrial heritage that traces back to the 13th century, during which it gained prominence for its mills and bridge, from which its name derives. Today, Ivybridge has preserved its antiquated charm, evident in its architectural treasures, including the iconic Ivy Bridge—a stone packhorse bridge that serves as a poignant symbol of the town's past.
Enthusiasts of nature and outdoor pursuits flock to Ivybridge for its close proximity to Dartmoor National Park. This vast expanse encompasses moorland, ancient woodlands, and picturesque trails, providing an idyllic haven for hikers, cyclists, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Ivybridge, with its alluring surroundings and captivating allure, stands as a hidden gem in the South West of England, captivating both visitors and residents with its natural beauty and rich heritage.
On the 11th of June, 2023 this idyllic town in the South West (well, nearby) will be taken over by the fastest men and women in the UK as they take on round 6 of the Merlin Series and the RTTC National Circuit Championships. This opens a lot of questions like who will win? Will Jake Sargent ride fast enough to tip a cow as he goes past? What will you need to do to win?
Circuit TTs are beautiful and the Merlin Series does a wonderful job of promoting them. They are significantly harder to master than a flat a-road and executing a good one is an elusive combination of art and science. On courses like this, myWindsock really comes into its own. It can be used by riders to pace their effort and by journalists, teams and commentators to preview and analyse courses.
For CTT events, all the courses are available to use as forecasts on myWindsock and are all preloaded into the application.
The course
The circuit champs take place on the S3/25S(A) course located near Ivybridge in Devon. It’s a two lap course that covers 25.5 miles with a hill each lap. Looking at the fastest times on race day, it’s clear conditions play an important role with forecasts suggesting a time between 51 and 53 minutes for the strongest, most aerodynamic riders that the UK TT scene has to offer. If you’d like a more detailed analysis of the course, including pacing advice - you can find it here on the myWindsock website.
The course includes two laps, with a climb and a descent each lap. It is a rolling, technically challenging circuit where pacing and the weather will likely play a large role. The course has around 240 m of elevation per lap and there are two laps. The danger of this course is in the first climb, riders that start too hard will blow their legs off for the remainder of the race and riders that don’t warm up properly will find themselves shipping unrecoverable amounts of time on the first ascent. The long descent each lap is usually tail wind or cross tail wind and will require riders at the pointy end of the field to be brave – facing very high speeds as they try to remain in the aero bars.
How can I use myWindsock to pace my own effort?
Using myWindsock to pace a time trial can be a valuable tool in optimising your performance. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use myWindsock for pacing:
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Sign up and log in: Visit the myWindsock website and create an account or log in if you already have one.
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Set up your time trial: Enter the specific details of your time trial course as well as your personal numbers like power and cda. This information will help myWindsock generate accurate predictions and recommendations.
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Plan your pacing strategy: Based on the wind data, identify sections of the course where you will face headwinds or tailwinds. Adjust your pacing strategy accordingly.
Pacing a rolling course like this one can be tricky but it essentially boils down to a few factors. Climb hard, but not too hard, punch over the top and recover on the descents. That said, a little planning never hurts in a time trial and if you want to plan with the best in the business as used by World Tour riders and Olympic champions – click here to sign up.