150,000+ Members 250,000+ Race Plans

Race the Clock with Precision Time Trial Pacing Plans

Best Bike Split turns your power, course, and conditions into an optimal even-effort pacing strategy — so every watt goes toward your fastest possible time.

Start Your Race Plan
View A Demo Plan

A time trial is the purest test in cycling — no draft, no pack, just you against the clock. Best Bike Split builds a precise, even-effort power plan that squeezes every second out of your course, whether you're racing a prologue, a 10-mile, a 25-mile / 40K, or a long-course TT.

The Time Trial Pacing Challenge

Ride the Race of Truth Without Blowing Up

There's no group to hide in and no one to chase down for you. Go out too hard and you'll pay for it in the back half. Pace too conservatively and you'll leave free seconds on the table. The solution? Science-based variable power pacing built specifically for time trialing.

The Problem

Riding a flat, steady watt number all day ignores course realities. Hills, wind direction, and road surface all demand different power outputs for the fastest possible time, and there's no draft to bail you out of a bad pacing decision.

The BBS Solution

Best Bike Split analyzes every mile of your course — elevation changes, road surfaces, wind direction — then calculates the exact power targets that minimize your total time, given your fitness, position, and equipment.

The Result

Time trialists using Best Bike Split consistently report faster, more even-effort rides. Our algorithms prevent the classic mistake: burning matches in the first mile that you can't get back later.

Our Top Features

Everything You Need for Your Fastest Time Trial

Predict your time trial split, plan precise pacing from your power data, and ride with confidence on race day — so every mile is executed at the right effort. Check out more about our top features.

Predict your split for a prologue, 10, 25, or long-course TT

Know your target time before race day with accuracy within 2-3% when power data and conditions are correct. Plan your effort with confidence, understanding exactly where you'll gain or lose time on your specific course.

Optimize power for a true even-effort pacing strategy

Our algorithm calculates the power distribution that minimizes total time while keeping your Variability Index close to ideal for the course. See projected Training Stress Score (TSS) and normalized power so your pacing strategy is optimized, not just aggressive.

Train the exact demands of your TT, indoors or outdoors

Upload your race plan to Zwift, TrainerRoad, or your smart trainer for indoor workouts that replicate your race-day power targets. Or use our AI Workout Builder to create custom threshold and VO2max sessions tailored to your event. Take it outside with workout files for Garmin, Hammerhead Karoo or Wahoo devices for course-specific outdoor training.

Follow real-time power guidance on your Garmin, Hammerhead Karoo or Wahoo

Execute your perfect pacing plan on race day with turn-by-turn power targets loaded directly to your bike computer. See your plan, current power, and time ahead/behind pace in real-time throughout the course.

Choose the fastest equipment, position, and race strategy

Model different scenarios: disc wheel vs. standard, skinsuit vs. jersey, aggressive aero position vs. sustainable position. Since there's no draft to hide behind, aerodynamics is often the single biggest lever on your finish time — see exactly how many seconds each change is worth.

See how fitness, drag, weight, and wind affect time

Test what-if scenarios and see how a lower CdA position impacts your split on an exposed course vs bumping up your FTP, or how a crosswind on the back half changes your pacing strategy. Use our Time Analysis tool to visualize exactly where power, weight, and equipment changes have the biggest impact on your finish time.

Pace perfectly to avoid burning matches early

The biggest mistake in time trialing is going out too hard chasing adrenaline off the start ramp. Best Bike Split's variable power algorithm prevents the classic error of surging early and fading late. Our pacing plans account for cumulative fatigue so you hold sustainable effort all the way to the line.

Learn from real ride data to improve every race

Upload your actual race files and compare against your plan. See where you held target power and where you deviated. Analyze the impact of pacing variations on your performance. Use these insights to refine your strategy for the next TT and continuously improve your execution.

Plan with physics-based modeling trusted by pros

Best Bike Split's algorithms are used by World Tour cycling teams to optimize time trial performance. The same physics-based modeling that helps pros win against the clock is available to age groupers. Our math accounts for aerodynamics, rolling resistance, gradient, wind, and power output to calculate the fastest possible way to complete your course.

Start race day with total confidence in your strategy

Eliminate pre-race anxiety about pacing. Roll off the start ramp knowing exactly what power to hold in every section of the course. No more guessing whether to push the climbs or save it for the flats. Execute your plan with complete confidence that it's optimized for your fastest possible time.

Time Trial Pacing Plans

Optimized Pacing for Every Time Trial Distance

Prologue Pacing

Short and explosive, a prologue is raced closer to VO2max than threshold. Our plans typically target 105-115% of FTP depending on course profile, with a precise pacing curve that front-loads effort without cracking before the line.

  • Predict your exact split before race day
  • Dial in near-maximal pacing without cracking
  • Optimize speed for short, high-intensity efforts
  • Execute perfectly with real-time power targets
105–115%
FTP Target
<5 mi
Distance
<15 min
Duration
cyclist racing a short prologue time trial with power pacing

10-Mile Time Trial Pacing

The 10-mile TT is the classic club-level distance, raced right at the edge of sustainable threshold effort. Best Bike Split helps you find the power ceiling that maximizes speed without a late fade, typically 98-105% of FTP with adjustments for wind and gradient.

  • Find the fastest sustainable power for 20-30 minutes
  • Avoid the classic out-too-hard fade
  • Model wind, gradient, and course dynamics
  • Train precisely for race-day demands
98–105%
FTP Target
10 mi
Distance
~20-30 min
Duration
rider pacing a 10 mile time trial with a power meter

25-Mile / 40K Time Trial Pacing

The 25-mile / 40K distance is close to a true threshold effort — typically 92-98% of FTP. Our variable power algorithm adjusts your targets across the full distance, accounting for hills, wind sections, and turnarounds while keeping your effort even from start to finish.

  • Execute steady, even effort across the full distance
  • Adapt pacing for hills, wind, and heat
  • Hold your target Variability Index all the way in
  • Validate nutrition and effort before race day
92–98%
FTP Target
25 mi / 40K
Distance
~45-75 min
Duration
time trial specialist following a precision pacing plan

Long-Course Time Trial Pacing

The long-course TT — 50 miles and up, or 90+ minutes — is an exercise in patience and disciplined pacing. Most riders perform best at 85-92% of FTP, but this varies significantly based on course difficulty, temperature, and individual durability.

  • Distribute effort perfectly across a long distance
  • Prevent late-race fatigue and pacing mistakes
  • Model heat, terrain, and endurance limits
  • Set up your strongest possible closing miles
85–92%
FTP Target
50+ mi
Distance
90+ min
Duration
cyclist using power meter on a long course time trial

Easy Setup

Create Your Time Trial Power Plan in 3 Steps

triathlete power profile

Build Your Athlete Profile

Enter your FTP, weight, bike specs, and aero data to generate precise race predictions. Don't know your CdA? Our system can estimate it from your position and equipment or from a past ride so you can start racing with confidence.

triathlon specific courses

Select or Create a Course

Choose from thousands of existing time trial courses, or upload your own GPX file. Our database includes detailed elevation profiles and road surfaces, plus historical or forecasted weather for accurate predictions.

custom triathlon pacing plan

Get Your Personalized Plan

Receive a detailed, mile-by-mile time trial pacing strategy with variable power targets optimized for every section of your course. See your predicted bike split, IF, TSS and exactly how your pacing strategy minimizes finish time.

Train and Race with Your Plan

Download your plan to Zwift, TrainerRoad, or any ERG-mode trainer for indoor training. Export to Garmin, Hammerhead Karoo or Wahoo for outdoor training rides and race-day execution. Practice makes perfect — run your exact race plan in training before the big day.

Create Free Time Trial Pacing Plan

Indoor and Outdoor Workouts

Train with Your Time Trial Pacing Plan

Indoor Course Simulation

Why guess at race day power targets during training? Upload your plan to Zwift or TrainerRoad and ride the exact power profile you'll execute on race day. Learn more about our indoor training strategies to maximize your off-season preparation.

Outdoor Race Rehearsals

Load your time trial pacing plan to your Garmin, Hammerhead Karoo or Wahoo device for outdoor execution. Ride the actual course if possible, or simulate race efforts on similar terrain. Follow your plan's power targets and build muscle memory for race-day execution.

Position and Equipment Testing

Best Bike Split plans make it easy to test position or equipment changes before you commit on race day. Compare a lower aero position, a disc wheel, or a skinsuit against your current setup and see the projected time impact before you buy or change anything.

Progress Tracking

Compare your training rides against your plan. Are you able to hold the target watts? Is your pacing curve staying even? Use real ride data to refine your plan, adjust FTP estimates, and optimize your race-day strategy.

Wahoo bike computer displaying time trial power targets from Best Bike Split

Top Time Trial Events

Use Best Bike Split for Your Next Time Trial

UCI Road World Championships — ITT

The individual time trial at the UCI Road World Championships is the definitive test of pure, sustained power against the clock, contested by the best time trial specialists in the world over a course that typically rewards a disciplined, even-effort pacing strategy.

Tour de France — Individual Time Trial Stage

The Tour de France's ITT stage is often the single most decisive day of the race, where general classification battles are won or lost on pacing discipline, aerodynamics, and equipment choices rather than tactics or the peloton.

Giro d'Italia — Individual Time Trial Stage

The Giro's ITT stages range from short, punchy efforts to long-course tests of sustained threshold power, offering a benchmark course type for modeling everything from prologue-style pacing to extended even-effort strategy.

USA Cycling Elite & Masters National TT Championships

The domestic benchmark event for American time trialists, drawing amateur and elite riders to a single course each year — an ideal event for testing pacing strategy and equipment choices against a competitive national field.

Chrono des Nations

One of the largest and most prestigious individual time trials open to both professionals and amateurs, held annually in Les Herbiers, France, on a fast, rolling course ideal for modeling threshold-level pacing strategy over roughly 45 kilometers.

Race Across America (RAAM)

An ultra-distance solo time trial across the United States, where pacing discipline over multiple days matters more than raw power — a extreme benchmark event for modeling sustainable long-duration effort, fatigue, and endurance limits.

Time Trial FAQs

Time Trial Pacing Questions

Target power depends almost entirely on duration. A short prologue or sub-15 minute TT is often ridden at 105-115% of FTP, a 10-mile or 25-mile TT closer to 92-105% of FTP, and a long-course TT of 90+ minutes closer to 85-92% of FTP. Course profile, wind exposure, and pacing discipline all shift the optimal number. Best Bike Split models these variables to calculate your personal optimal power target, not a generic percentage.

Short time trials (under 20 minutes) are raced closer to VO2max, allowing aggressive, near-maximal power with less margin for error. Long time trials (60+ minutes) require power closer to threshold with a flatter, more disciplined pacing curve to avoid fading in the closing miles. Best Bike Split accounts for event duration when calculating your optimal power distribution.

A "Generic Pace Calculator" will be OK for a flat course with calm conditions, with estimates that are typically within 5-8% of your actual finish time. On a rolling or windy course, the error margin grows significantly, since time trials have zero drafting benefit and are unusually sensitive to wind direction. We do have a basic pace calculator that can be used as a rough benchmark. Ultimately, you should model your actual course in Best Bike Split for precision pacing using real course data, weather, and aerodynamics to produce a precise, segment-by-segment power plan.

While a power meter provides the most accurate execution tool, Best Bike Split can also create RPE and pace-based cheat sheets for guidance. However, we strongly recommend a power meter for time trialing. If you're new to power-based training, check out our introduction to power meters to understand how they can improve your performance.

Yes. Best Bike Split can estimate FTP based on recent ride data, or you can perform an FTP test to establish your baseline. We also offer guidance on determining appropriate training and racing power zones once you have FTP established.

When power data, course information, and weather conditions are accurate, our physics-based modeling typically predicts finish times within 2-3%. Time trialists across every distance category use these predictions to set target splits before race day.

Yes. Since time trials have no draft to hide in, aerodynamics is often the single biggest lever on your finish time. Best Bike Split models CdA changes from position, helmet, skinsuit, and wheel choice so you can compare equipment scenarios and see exactly how many seconds each change is worth on your course.

Yes! Upload a GPX file for any club 10, national championship course, or personal time trial effort, select from our database of existing courses, or create your own course using our Course Builder.

Best Bike Split isn't limited to one type of racing. Our physics-based pacing engine also works for road racing, triathlon, gravel racing, and mountain bike racing. Whatever you're training for, our course and weather modeling adapts to the surface, terrain, and demands of your specific event.

Best Bike Split vs Old Methods

Why Best Bike Split Beats Traditional Time Trial Pacing

Steady-state pacing works on a trainer, not on a real time trial course. Best Bike Split analyzes terrain, wind, and fatigue to deliver a precise, data-driven pacing plan that produces faster splits with an even, sustainable effort.

Old School Method Best Bike Split Method

Ride Steady State Power

"Just hold threshold for the whole course"

Variable Power Pacing

Calculate optimal power for every mile based on gradient, wind, road surface, and cumulative fatigue.

The Problem

Real courses aren't flat trainer roads. Hills, wind, and technical sections all impact optimal power output. Riding steady watts means you're either over-pacing climbs (and accumulating fatigue) or under-pacing flat sections (and losing time).

The Result

Faster splits with less fatigue. More efficient use of your FTP throughout the course. A stronger finish instead of a late fade.

Guessing your split from past races isn't reliable on a new course. Best Bike Split models the exact terrain, conditions, and your performance to deliver precise, data-driven time predictions before race day.

Old School Method Best Bike Split Method

Guess Your Split Time

"I did 22:30 last time, so maybe 22:00 on this course?"

Physics-Based Time Prediction

Model the exact course you're racing with your power, weight, equipment, and expected conditions.

The Problem

Every course is different. Elevation gain, wind exposure, road surface quality, and temperature all impact split times. Past performance on different courses doesn't predict new course results.

The Result

Know your target split within seconds before race day. Plan equipment choices, warm-up timing, and overall race strategy with accurate time predictions.

Join 150,000+ Athletes Already Racing Smarter

Stop guessing at time trial pacing. Stop following generic advice that doesn't account for your specific course, conditions, or abilities. Start using the same physics-based modeling trusted by pro time trial specialist and world champion cyclists.

Athlete Basic Includes

Limited Features

  • Wahoo ELEMNT Integration
  • ELEMNT/KICKR Race Sims
  • Single Bike Profile
  • Single Race Plan
  • Automatic Climb Detection
  • Limited Race Analytics
  • Plan to Actual Comparison Tool
  • BBS AI Workout Builder
  • BBS AI Assistant
  • Workout Sync (top platforms)
  • Goal Race Time Model
  • Training Stress Score Model
  • Advanced Weather Feature
  • Advanced Surface Conditions
  • Time Analysis Tool

Premium Upgrade Unlocks

Included Top Features*

  • Wahoo ELEMNT Integration
  • ELEMNT/KICKR Race Sims
  • Unlimited Bike Profiles
  • Unlimited Race Plans
  • Automatic Climb Detection
  • Race Analytics Tool
  • Plan to Actual Comparison Tool
  • BBS AI Workout Builder
  • BBS AI Assistant
  • Workout Sync (top platforms)
  • Goal Race Time Model
  • Training Stress Score Model
  • Advanced Weather Feature
  • Advanced Surface Conditions
  • Time Analysis Tool

* View a full list of all our premium features that come with paid subscriptions.

Create Free Time Trial Pacing Plan Now

No credit card required. Upgrade anytime. Cancel anytime.

Trusted by Top Teams, Pros and Coaches Around the World

CANYON//SRAM Racing partners with Best Bike Split
Team Jayco AlUla recommends power pacing
Lotto Intermarche uses power plans
EF Pro Cycling plans, trains and races with Best Bike Split
Human Powered Health coaches with Best Bike Split
Lidl Trek uses Best Bike Split to win
Confidis is a partner of Best Bike Split