We want your visit to the Time Trial to be as memorable as possible. Make sure you’re prepared for your London 2012 experience by reading the information below – and don’t forget to plan your travel in advance.
If you have a ticket for the Time Trial, go to the visitor information pages for Hampton Court Palace
Collecting tickets from this venue? See the latest London 2012 box office information
When is it?
Both the men and the women’s Time Trial events take place on Wednesday 1 August, with the women’s event starting at 12.30pm and the men following on at 2.15pm.
Find out more about the Time Trial
Where is it?
The event starts and finishes in the ticketed area of Hampton Court Palace. It is a looped route, with the 40 male cyclists doing 44km and the 25 female cyclists 29km.
The women’s route goes through Surrey and London. It is a shorter loop than the men’s, and does not take in East Molesey or Richmond. The men’s route takes cyclists into Surrey through, East and West Molesey, Thames Ditton, Weston Green, Esher, Hersham and Cobham and then into London through Kingston and Teddington and back to Hampton Court Palace.
Download the men's Time Trial route map
Download the women's Time Trial route map
Top tips
If you’re thinking of going to watch the Time Trial, it’s important you plan your day in advance. Here are our tips on how to enjoy a memorable day:
- Plan your day in advance – read the information on these pages and sign up to our dedicated e-newsletter
- Stay local – if you’re lucky enough to live close to the route, please walk or cycle to your nearest viewing point, as many roads will be closed.
- Get there early to secure a good spot – London will be much busier than usual and viewing capacity will be limited, so think about a couple of places where you might want to watch, arrive early and be prepared to wait.
- Don’t drive – there will be extensive road closures along the route, and there is no parking available anywhere near the venue. For details of road closures in London, visit the Get Ahead of the Games website
- Check online before you set off – journey times and routes may change during the Games, so check the most up-to-date travel information before you leave home
- Be prepared to wait – with increased numbers of spectators in and around London at Games time, there will be longer queues for everything from the Tube to the toilets.
- Come prepared for all types of weather – this is an outdoor event so check the weather forecast the night before the race.
If you are thinking of making a day of it, you can search our events listings for information on what is going on around the Time Trial route.
Surrey Council also has a dedicated website for all Olympic-related activity
Want to ride the route?
If you’re a cycling enthusiast, you may want to cycle along the official Olympic Time Trial route. Preparations will start along the route the day before, and once the roads are closed, the route will be inaccessible to all traffic. Pedestrians will be able to walk alongside the route during closures. The route will be fully accessible when the roads open again after the weekend of the Olympic Road Race.
Road closures
Wednesday 1 August
Road closures will be in place for the Time Trial route from 5.30am.
For details of road closures, visit the Get Ahead of the Games website
If you plan to attend the Time Trial, you should think carefully about where you want to watch as some locations will be very busy. Large crowds are expected to attend and space will be limited. Arrive early, be prepared to wait and make sure you know how to get there. It is a good idea to have a plan B in case your preferred viewing area doesn’t work out.
Get information and advice on planning your travel to the Time Trial
Download the official London 2012 Join In app – a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience.
Sign up for more information
Sign up now to receive dedicated emails on the Time Trial and be first in line to get event updates, travel advice and other tips to help make the most of your day.
In June we will be launching an interactive map which will provide further details on when to expect riders, spectator facilities such as cycle parking, and other information.
You can also download the official London 2012 Join In app – a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience.
