Preview: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Individual Time Trial

Road cycling at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games begins tomorrow with the men’s and women’s individual time trials.

This will be the seventh running of the road time trial at the Commonwealth Games. Australia are the reigning champions after Cameron Meyer and Katrin Garfoot won back in 2018.

Here’s what you need to know about Thursday’s race of truth.

The route

In an individual time trial, each competitor rides by themselves, aiming to complete the course in the fastest time.

The men’s and women’s courses will start and finish in Wolverhampton, 30 kilometres north-west of Birmingham. The men will cover 37.4km while the women will race a shorter 28.8km.

The route map for the Birmingham 2022 road cycling time trial

Riders will start beside a picturesque lake in a Victorian-era park. They’ll navigate Wolverhampton’s city core before heading south along wide arterial roads.

They’ll visit the market town of Dudley only for a brief moment, whipping around the town hall before setting course back towards Wolverhampton.

At the 18km mark, they’ll face the main obstacle of the day. After plunging rapidly down Moden Hill, they’ll slam on the brakes for an abrupt right-turn onto Catholic Lane, a sharp effort of 600m with gradients up to 18%.

Cyclist Luke Plapp racing an individual time trial for Australia

Luke Plapp has been an Australian champion in the race of truth. (Photo: Casey Gibson)

Over the top, the two courses part ways. The men will turn left down a twisting, narrow country lane that’ll require careful attention at high speeds, heading for the village of Himley.

The women will take a more direct route straight across to Gospel End, where the routes will merge and all competitors will head north along the main road back to Wolverhampton.

In the last kilometre, they’ll contend with six 90-degree corners before finishing back at West Park.

Overall, it appears to be a well-balanced route. It’s not technical, besides the opening and closing kilometres. Much of the race takes place on wide A-roads.

While it has some sharp climbs and tricky descents, the route includes long power sections where riders can settle into a rhythm.

Australian riders

Both of Australia’s national time trial champions will race in the green and gold.

Cyclist Grace Brown in an aerodynamic position racing an individual time trial for Australia

Grace Brown will start as favourite for the women’s race. (Photo: Rob Jones)

Grace Brown will lead the women’s charge, fresh off completing the Tour de France Femmes. Brown will take confidence from her fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics; she knows what it takes to perform at this level and starts as the gold medal favourite.

“I want to win the time trial,” Brown told AusCycling before the Games.

“I’ve been to see the courses. My in-laws live nearby, so I took the opportunity.

“The time-trial course is cool. It starts in the park and there’s a little bit of a technical aspect getting out of the centre, and then the course is quite undulating and flowy. It’s got all the aspects of a time trial that you want.

“Every opportunity to race in the green and gold is really special, especially at a multi-sports games – the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. All Australians tune in and watch. I’m always proud to be part of that.”

Sarah Roy and points race gold medallist Georgia Baker will back up their track cycling program in the road time trial.

Rohan Dennis racing an individual time trial for Australia during the Tokyo Olympic Games on a motorsport track

This is the third Commonwealth Games for Rohan Dennis. (Photo: Michael Steele / Getty Images)

Rohan Dennis is the most experienced campaigner on the Australian team, these being his third Commonwealth Games. The two-time world champion and Olympic medallist is a favourite to add to his silver from Glasgow 2014.

After making his Games debut on the track, 21-year-old Lucas Plapp – also a former national champion – will complete the team as another genuine contender against the clock.

How to watch

You can watch the time trial on Channel Seven and streaming live on 7plus.

It’s a rare opportunity for primetime viewing. The first female rider will roll down the ramp at 7:00pm AEST while the men’s event will start from 9:00pm.

Welshman Geraint Thomas, South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and England’s Joscelin Lowden will be Australia’s most likely challengers. The event will also include Australian-born National Road Series rider Aidan Buttigieg, who'll be competing for Malta.

Start times (AEST)

7:23pm - Sarah Roy
7:28pm - Georgia Baker
7:35pm - Grace Brown
9:25pm - Lucas Plapp
11:28pm - Rohan Dennis

Preview: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Individual Time Trial

The route

Australian riders

How to watch

Start times (AEST)

Social Media

Australian Cycling Team

AusCycling

Commonwealth Games Australia