This is a big week for CTS Support Crews. We have athletes racing the Breck Epic MTB Stage Race in Breckenridge, and then this weekend we shift over to support a ton of CTS Athletes racing the Leadville 100 MTB Race. And then next week we head off the USA Pro Challenge Race Experience!…
Read the full articleTopic: Chris Carmichael
The 6 Keys to Great Training and Big Improvements
There are a lot of athletes who do not train to win races. Many train because they enjoy being fit and performing at their best in non-competitive events like cycling tours, charity rides, or the local group ride. Still more train because of the role being fit and active and engaged in sport plays…
Read the full article3 Steps to Preparing for Back-To-Back Events (or, Why the Giro-Tour Double is so hard!)
One of the best things about having a staff of full-time coaches is the impromptu coaching round-table discussions we tend to have. This week we had an interesting discussion about the Giro d’Italia – Tour de France Double, or more broadly the attempt to win two back-to-back Grand Tours in a single season (Giro-Tour…
Read the full articleCan you answer these questions about climbing at the Tour de France?
Many of you have been watching the Tour de France for years and perhaps you’ve read my commentary and articles about the training and strategies riders use to be successful at the Tour. On the other hand, some of you may be pretty new to watching the Tour de France or any professional cycling event. So, let’s…
Read the full articleWhat are we going to do about rider safety in pro cycling?
Earlier this week Jim Ochowicz, my old team director from 7-Eleven, upset some cycling fans by suggesting that the Tour de France should reduce the number of teams in future races in order to reduce the number of crashes. And while other people have made that suggestion in the past, Jim further ruffled feathers…
Read the full articleLactate: Your Best Friend or Worst Enemy?
Several years ago I became more interested in lactate, particularly because both research and experience were suggesting that coaches and sports scientists had been wrong about the stuff. Recent years have seen a renaissance for lactate, but out on the road and in the blogosphere I still hear misinformed people railing against the evils…
Read the full articleWhich is better: Training With High or Low Carbohydrate Stores?
By Chris Carmichael Coaching is a push-and-pull between tradition and innovation, between “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” and “Newer is better!”. During my coaching career I’ve been on both sides of that divide, always seeking innovation but wary that innovations that sound good don’t always lead to improved performance. Training when you’re…
Read the full articleWeekend Reading: Four Tips for Acing Your Next Performance Test
If progress is important to you then measuring and monitoring your performance is critical. We know, for instance, that in the first six months an athlete works with a CTS Coach, they can often see a 10% increase in CTS Field Test Power. Increased power isn’t the only way we measure success with an…
Read the full articleStaying Safe And Performing Your Best When Cycling In The Rain – Part 2
Last week I ran through the basics of cycling in the rain, which means this week we can move to the next level of wet-weather performance and answer some of the questions readers posted on last week’s article. Only stop if continuing puts you in danger When the skies open up you have to…
Read the full articleThree Key Climbing Workouts for Sustained Power, Surge Strength, and Winning Attacks
By Chris Carmichael There are three main areas that need to be addressed when you want to become a better, stronger, and faster climber. First you have to increase your maximum sustainable power. This increases the pace you can sustain for prolonged climbs, and in the best case it also means you can ride…
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