Time Trial Classification?

[ImmaculateKadence]

I was talking to a friend the other day. He's only a casual cycling fan, and often asks me cycling related questions. Anyway, he asked why there isn't a Time Trial Classification. You have the points/sprinters, young riders, KOM, and the (oh so coveted) team classification, so why not one for the TT? I didn't really have an answer for him, and told him most races don't have that many TT kms to necessitate such a classification. A GT typically has two TTs, maybe three if they include a TTT.

I got to thinking about it; in a GT it might make sense. They don't have to wear a jersey, just take cumulative time for TTs at the end of the race, and award a trophy and/or bonus money for that. Any thoughts?

 

[Cerberus]

I was talking to a friend the other day. He's only a casual cycling fan, and often asks me cycling related questions. Anyway, he asked why there isn't a Time Trial Classification. You have the points/sprinters, young riders, KOM, and the (oh so coveted) team classification, so why not one for the TT? I didn't really have an answer for him, and told him most races don't have that many TT kms to necessitate such a classification. A GT typically has two TTs, maybe three if they include a TTT.

I got to thinking about it; in a GT it might make sense. They don't have to wear a jersey, just take cumulative time for TTs at the end of the race, and award a trophy and/or bonus money for that. Any thoughts?

To little variance IMO. whoever won the TT classification would probably be the same as one of the winners of the TT if the same rider doesn't just win with (or all three of them). No strategy, no suspense, no extra aspect to the race. I don't see what the point would be.

 

[elapid]

Agree. There are a number of intermediate and finish points for the sprint and mountain competitions. These are meant to highlight the most consistent sprinter and climber in a GT. But there are only 1-3 TTs in any given GT, so the winner of the TT stage is rewarded by the stage win itself because it is a bit hard to reward consistency over two TTs.