Press Release: CTS Signs Partnership with Pikes Peak APEX Mountain Bike Race

Written by:

Jim Rutberg

CTS Pro Endurance Coach

Updated On

March 7, 2025

Coaching company to work with inaugural 4-day MTB stage race in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, January 14, 2020) – CTS today joined Sports Strategies to announce a partnership between the industry-leading coaching company and the inaugural Pikes Peak APEX, presented by Rockshox, a 4-day mountain bike race to be held in Colorado Springs on September 24-27, 2020.

CTS, which is celebrating its 20^th year in business and with its headquarters in Colorado Springs, has a long history of supporting local events, particularly in their early stages. CTS Founder and Head Coach, an Olympian and 1999 US Olympic Committee Coach of the Year, was the head of the Local Organizing Committee that brought the inaugural USA Pro Challenge professional road racing stage race to Colorado Springs in 2011.

Pikes Peak APEX Executive Director and VP of Event Strategy and Operations for Sports Strategies, Micah Rice, commented, “Chris and CTS have been a mainstay of the Colorado Springs cycling community for 20 years, and they have played a role in the growth of some of the nation’s most popular cycling events. We are proud to have CTS on board as a partner for 2020.”

The results of CTS event partnerships have indeed had positive impacts on growth. CTS was an early-stage partner of the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race in Leadville, CO; the 200-mile Dirty Kanza 200 gravel race in Emporia, Kansas; and the Steamboat Springs’ SBT GRVL gravel race. The Leadville 100 and Dirty Kanza 200 distribute entries via lottery, and the SBT GRVL entries sell out in minutes.

CTS Founder and Head Coach, Chris Carmichael, commented, “Colorado Springs has some of the best mountain biking terrain anywhere, and high-profile events are an important component of building the region’s reputation as a world-class destination for trail riding.” In addition to financial and in-kind contributions, CTS will offer race support packages available to registered riders, including accommodations and rider support services at The Athlete House in Old Colorado City.

The Pikes Peak APEX, presented by Rockshox, is a 4-day mountain bike race that will showcase the variety of mountain biking available in Olympic City, USA, including Palmer Park downtown, Cheyenne Canyon to the southwest, Rampart Range to the west, and the Falcon Trail on the Air Force Academy’s grounds up north. With a total prize purse of $50,000 divided equally between men’s and women’s competitions, the event promises to draw the nation’s top professional and amateur mountain bikers.

About Pikes Peak APEX

The Pikes Peak APEX inaugural event will be held September 24-27, 2020. This unique event features four days of riding in Olympic City, USA including in-town parks and backcountry stages on the slopes of Pikes Peak. The mission of the event is to drive economic impact to the area in order to improve the trails and open space in the Pikes Peak region for the lasting enjoyment of its residents and visitors.  The APEX, a Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance project, is operated by Sports Strategies, a division of Tourism Strategies, LLC. Please go to www.pikespeakapex.com for more information.

About CTS

A pioneering company in the endurance coaching industry CTS has improved the performance of more than 20,000 athletes since 2000. Founded by renowned coach and author Chris Carmichael, and home to more than 50 professional coaches, CTS seeks to change lives and ultimately the world, through the power of movement, healthy habits, knowledge, and inspiration. The company provides personal coaching, training camps, and Endurance Bucket List experiences to athletes of all ability levels. For more information, visit www.trainright.com.

Media contact: Jim Rutberg, jrutberg@trainright.com, 719-360-2672