Bit of a race, but it gets you nowhere! (3)

I believe the answer is:

lap

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'bit of a race' is the definition.
'lap' can be an answer for 'race' (thesaurus). I'm unsure of the 'bit of a' bit.

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lap that I've seen before include "Single circuit of track" , "Knees" , "One complete circuit" , "A circuit of a racecourse" , "Circuit of racetrack" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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