The UCI rule says that the riders have 5 seconds to start at the zero tone of the selected interval. In reality they all start right on their assigned start times. We typically put a syncronized timer such as an ALGE TIMY at the start to record on paper every start. We just keep this as a record in case we need to use the time to break a tie. We used to adjust the start times when this rule first came into being 5 or 6 years ago. That proved to be difficult with the radio systems in place. We then moved towards the concept of taking the start "time of day" impulses and recording them at the start remotely and running the races on the riders assigned start times.
We program the TDC 8000 ahead of time using the Alge Com to File software and a bidirectional RS-232 cable. You can also program the TDC manually.
In general we try to use a cabled or wireless start if the time trial is short like a prolougue in a stage race. We time to 1000ths in that case. Time trials held in the middle of the stage race can be timed using the assigned start times and the start times recorded. Many times the time trials in the middle are much more demanding and run point to point. We time these at 100ths if under and hour and 10ths if over an hour.
The ALGE ASC2 start clock will record the start time of day information if you connect a photocell, tapeswitch, or manual button to the green start inputs. A 2400,n,8,1 serial printer connected to the ASC2 will printer the times as they occur.
