Individual Time Trial

From Wikipedia:

ITT's are referred to as "the race of truth", as winning depends only on each rider's strength, endurance and determination against the clock.

To do well in an ITT, a cyclist must

* maintain a steady power output for long periods
* maintain a controlled heart rate for long periods
* have a smooth, regular pedalling technique
* position himself to be extremely aerodynamic
* discipline himself to operate just below the anaerobic threshold until near the end of the course
* blot out pain and all other distractions

Beginners are often criticized for putting in a J profile effort, meaning that they often go out too hard in the beginning, compensate by reducing their efforts in the middle, and then realize towards the end that they have not put out enough effort during the race.