Road cycling is usually a group ride, and then riders break out in a sprint just before the finish.
In Time Trial, riders start with a little gap, aren't allowed to bunch up, and race against the clock instead. Fastest time wins.
There are more disciplines than that. But for Road Cycling there's individual Time Trial, Team Time Trial and the regular road races.
Cycling events that end with 'trial' include "Time Trial," where cyclists race against the clock over a set distance, and "Hill Climb Trial," focusing on ascending a hill as quickly as possible. Another example is "Cyclo-cross Time Trial," which combines elements of cyclo-cross racing with time trial format. Each of these events emphasizes speed and endurance in different cycling contexts.
The USA won three medals in cycling at the 2004 Games: 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze. Gold: Tyler Hamilton - Men's Time Trial Silver: Deirdre Demet-Barry - Women's Time Trial Bronze: Bobby Julich - Men's Time Trial
Men's 1000 meter time trial cycling.
Olga ZabelinskayaRussia (RUS)
Judith ArndtGermany (GER)
Tony MartinGermany (GER)
500 meter time trial cycling. Anna also won a bronze in 2004 in sprint cycling and a silver in 2008 in sprint cycling.
Kristin Armstrong of the United States.
Kristin ArmstrongUnited States (USA)
Chris FroomeGreat Britain (GBR)
Bradley WigginsGreat Britain (GBR)