On Tuesday the 1st of July, riders will take on The Hot Lap at Oulton Park. This Prologue-style time trial demands precise pacing and we are here to give you some practical tips for making the best of it. Success will go to the riders who best understand their own strengths and limits over this short but intense course. It’s 2.7 miles in length (4.16 km) with a total elevation gain of 42 meters over the Hot Lap. It’ll take the top riders between 5 and 8 minutes to complete.

How should I pace my effort? 

The Hot Lap male and female records will require riders to ride between 110 and 100% of their VO2 max power for the duration of the effort. That means there’s no holding back, you’ll be over threshold from the gun.

A short effort like this doesn’t leave room for recovery, start strong, but don’t sprint. The first 30 seconds should feel punchy but sustainable. It’s important to get your speed up quickly and carry as much momentum as possible into the fast sections.

Settle into your target power early, keep your cadence smooth, and focus on staying as aero as possible. Use course knowledge to your advantage. Slight rises will feel harder than they look, so make sure you lift the power just enough to get over them without stalling. Getting your speed up before the top of a rise can help you slingshot into the next section and save precious seconds.

On the faster parts of the course, hold speed with controlled power rather than chasing extra watts. Remember, this is not a power test, it’s a speed test!

If you’ve paced it right, you’ll be on the limit in the final 60 seconds, with just enough left to squeeze out a brutal final kick to the line.

The Forecast

Before your ride, make sure to check out the forecast on myWindsock. It gives a detailed look at how wind, elevation, and conditions will affect your effort on The Hot Lap. Knowing when to push and when to tuck in can make all the difference, especially on a course this short and intense.