Athletes and coaches often mistake complexity for sophistication. They think a complex training plan or intricate workouts must be more effective. And there is a time and place for complicated periodization models and advanced interval setups. But, it’s important to realize those things are only necessary once you have maxed out the gains you can …
By CTS Coach Maddison Russell When considering hiring a cycling coach, it’s extremely important to do your due diligence. Whether you are progressing from being a self-coached athlete or a static cycling training plan there are a lot of bases you need to cover. If you are handing over the keys to your training, you …
Chris Carmichael, CTS Founder and Chief Endurance Officer Life is less forgiving after 40. It’s a myth you can’t gain fitness, lose weight, change careers, or change yourself past a certain age; but I do think those changes get harder. Your body doesn’t absorb and shrug off abuse as well as it did years …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS “I like the idea and you’re probably one of the only coaches I know with the balls to do it. I applaud you for that, but I can’t let you do it.” – Dr. Harvey Schiller, Executive Director of the United States Olympic Committee Watching the …
By Scott Mercier, CTS Contributing Editor, US Olympian, Retired pro cyclist Professional athletes are known for their mental toughness. And professional cycling, with its biblical levels of physical suffering, requires mental toughness in spades. Let’s face it, to be a professional in the peloton, you have to be tough, like hard as nails tough. …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS, US Olympic Team Coach 1992 & 1996 Most Olympic athletes have only one chance to get it right, so naturally they pour loads of time and effort and thought into preparation. But you don’t have to go to the Olympics to face the pressure and opportunity …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS You know what makes Olympic Champions, World Champions, and National Champions different from local hotshots? Yes, fortunate genetics plays a role, but when it comes down to training and competing, most of what amateurs and elites do is almost identical. Elites can handle higher workloads so …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS During the last three weeks of the Tour de France, one word has come up over and over again regarding the stand-out performances of Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Mark Cavendish: Adaptability. I’m not talking just about their ability to adapt to changing weather …
By Chris Carmichael, CEO/Head Coach of CTS The Pikes Peak APEX presented by RockShox covers just over 125 miles over 4 stages, features more than 14,000 feet of climbing, and showcases four iconic Colorado Springs-area trail systems. Mountain bike stage races and multi-day adventures present unique nutrition and hydration challenges, so whether you are …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Wout van Aert, the 78-kilogram (172 pound) cyclocross and Classics rider who finished second a day prior to Mark Cavendish in a bunch sprint on Stage 10, won a Tour de France stage that featured two ascents of the mythical Mont Ventoux. He didn’t have the …