UK Time Trial Events
In 2025, myWindsock are sponsoring the RTTC National 24 hour TT championships and the logistics of organising such an event have us curious. In that vein, we asked the organiser, Tim Smith, some questions about what it’s like to organise such an event. We covered some logistical challenges, safety, route planning and circuit selection as well as some of the technical challenges of tracking riders and timekeeping. Thanks to Tim Smith for answering these questions and helping us out with this.
What are the biggest logistical challenges in running a 24-hour TT, and how do you plan for them?
“The biggest challenges that we’ve come across so far are the number of marshals needed. Whilst the route itself doesn’t need a massive number, it’s the sheer logistics of getting enough marshals in the right places and particularly overnight that is challenging. Fortunately, I’ve got great help from Bob Norton of Congleton CC who is coordinating the marshalls and the numerous people who are volunteering to help”
Finding people to stand on the roadside and do a night shift for free, unsurprisingly, has turned out to be a major sticking point for Tim. Marshals are a vital part of any time trial, especially the RTTC National 24-Hour Championships. Their main role is to guide them along the correct route, and warning them of any hazards such as sharp bends or junctions. This is particularly important during the night, when tiredness sets in and visibility is reduced.
Marshals also help ensure the event runs fairly and according to CTT rules. While riders are responsible for knowing the course, marshals help prevent them from going off-route by mistake. They may also be positioned at checkpoints to record rider numbers, which is important for keeping track of laps and distances. Although marshals do not enforce penalties, they can report any serious issues or breaches of the rules – such as not using front and rear lights after dusk, or failing to wear the required reflective clothing – to the organisers or timekeepers.
In case of accidents, illness, or mechanical problems, marshals are often the first people on the scene. They can contact the event organisers or emergency services if needed and provide support until help arrives.
Finally, marshals give riders a much-needed morale boost. A friendly face or a few words of encouragement during a long, hard night on the bike can make a big difference. Without marshals, the event couldn’t go ahead safely or smoothly. They are a crucial part of what makes the 24-hour time trial possible.
How do you ensure rider and volunteer safety, especially during the night hours?
As we’ve already touched on, marshals are vital for the safety of everyone at the event. We asked Tim what steps are needed to keep everyone safe.
“In terms of safety, but also to ensure the accuracy of the results, we’ll be asking marshals to check off riders as they come through each time.”
Tim went on to express that there are difficulties in quickly identifying a rider’s absence in a short space of time but technology can help here. In the future, by making use of the CTT timing software to assist with split times you may be able to flag a rider not arriving at a checkpoint within an expected time window. It’s important for marshals to have a rough idea of where each rider is on the course at any given time, not only to help spot if someone has gone off-route or is in difficulty, but also to ensure a faster response in the event of an emergency or mechanical issue.
Tim finished off the safety aspect expressing the camaraderie and community feeling of the event, “Other aspects of safety obviously include the normal elements of having to have working lights but the event does have a real camaraderie about it and I think everyone will look out for everyone where they can.” This community spirit is one of the many things that makes a 24 hour TT such a special event.
What’s your approach to route planning—what factors make or break a good 24-hour TT course?
Tim’s approach to route planning was refreshing. When we asked him this, his response was short, “This is a case of KISS (keep it simple stupid)”. A simple, well-used route makes it easier for riders to navigate, helps marshals and support crews know exactly where they need to be, and reduces the chance of unexpected issues on the day.
How do you manage rider tracking and timekeeping across such a long duration?
We can’t imagine anything worse than being 22 hours and 57 minutes into a 24 hour time trial and the time keepers letting you know they have no idea where you are in the race. I asked Tim about this. He said, “There’s a very comprehensive process to check off riders at various point and note timings” – so there’s multiple layers of timings as well as analogue redundancies. He went on to reassure me that they “have absolutely all the data to try to make sure that no mistakes are made and when they are, they can be easily identified and rectified”. That’s us reassured then. On top of this, to retain spectator attention, which one might imagine could be tricky in a race that’s 24 hours long, they “put up leader board of mileages up to the point at which riders move onto the finishing circuit – giving people some interesting info during the race” – a little like checking in on the clubhouse scores during a golf tournament, perhaps, we aren’t sure as myWindsock HQ doesn’t really do much golf.
In conclusion, organising a 24-hour time trial like the RTTC National Championships is no small feat. From recruiting enough dedicated marshals—especially for overnight shifts—to ensuring rider safety and keeping the event running smoothly, it takes a tremendous amount of planning, teamwork, and commitment. Tim’s insights reveal the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into making such an event possible. Thanks to the support of volunteers, effective use of technology, and a simple yet thoughtful approach to route planning, events like this continue to thrive—showcasing not just endurance, but also the strength of the cycling community.
For the next week and a bit you can enter the RTTC 24 hour National Time Trial Championships here. In order to be prepared for race day, sign up to myWindsock.
