Just as a picture paints a thousand words, in the sporting world the numbers often say it all. In snooker, 147; in cricket, a century; in golf, one. Time trialling, more than most branches of cycle sport, is predicated on figures – the key distances are 10, 25; the key times are 50, 20 minutes; and when it comes to pinning on a number, 120 are the coveted digits. If you have that printed on the square piece of flapping plastic safety-pinned to your skinsuit, it means you are the fastest rider in a full field – the one to beat.
Most riders will never get to wear it, and for the time being at least, the opportunities to do so are dwindling. The current trend for low entries means full fields of 120 riders are becoming increasingly rare, with the usually oversubscribed National Championship 25 being one of the most recent – and high-profile casualties.
There have been changes at the top of Cycling Time Trials (CTT), the organisation overseeing the sport, including a new chair for the first time in 13 years, and it has taken the unusual step of surveying its members to find out exactly what is going on with the low turnouts.
There are a variety of theories as to why numbers are down, most of them linked directly or indirectly to the Covid-19 and cost of living crisis – though a number of riders and organisers CW spoke to suggested these factors had only served to accelerate an issue that was already present.
Esta historia es de la edición June 09, 2022 de CYCLING WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 09, 2022 de CYCLING WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
CLASSIC BIKE COLNAGO SUPER
A trailblazing bike immortalised by Merckx and Saronni
"Strava activities are the only way I know some of my friends are still alive"
...or that Bernard is doing his weekly shop
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON... SADDLE SELECTION
Crucial advice to guide your next purchase
JUST A NUMB#R?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
RURAL PERIL
More UK cyclists are killed on rural lanes than on busy city streets. Rob Kemp investigates why and what can be done to keep us safe while riding in the countryside
A BLESSED RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Forgoing cloak, cassock and cross, Trevor Ward goes in search of the holy roads that helped make a Tour winner
Dame Sarah Storey claims road and 19th gold double
More success for Team GB's Paralympians in Paris, but Storey slams women's time trial course
Roglič matches Vuelta win record
Slovenian takes fourth Tour of Spain title after hunting down O'Connor's lead, writes Adam Becket
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
CLASSIC BIKE CLAUD BUTLER OLYMPIC ROAD
Iconic British brand's Holdsworth-era road bike