According to Adnan Kadir, cycling coach and two-time Oregon time-trials champion:

Enter a race. Clean up your bike. Show up. Focus. Close your eyes. Imagine your effort. Think calm, happy thoughts. Don't get caught up in the start-line craziness. Start off just warming up. Stay alert. Focus. Drink water. Get behind someone who's smooth and steady. Sit right behind their wheel. Don't be nervous or you'll crash. Use your energy wisely. Spend a quarter of the race not pedaling. Then break away. Attack. Go as hard as you can for a minute. Slow down and just go pretty damn hard. Focus. Win. Eat ice cream.