Chris Carmichael of CTS

Team 7-Eleven. Lance Armstrong’s coach. US Cycling Hall of Fame Inductee. Supercoach.

Today on The Crux Podcast we have a very special guest and friend! We are excited to share our conversation with Chris Carmichael, former pro cyclist turned coach, who is the founder and CEO of CTS, through which he and his team bring the best in coaching methodologies to their elite athletes and private clients alike. In our conversation, we go deep into the philosophy that Chris and his company use as a foundation, and we get Chris to weigh in on some of the basics of coaching and training before getting more specific on areas of interest. Our guest shares his thoughts on the rise of new technologies, data usage, the advent of AI, and how these can both help and hinder the mission of coaches and athletes. As you will hear throughout this insightful episode, Chris is a strong believer in continuing the traditions of coaching and using the eternal building blocks of improvement, momentum, and determination, before looking to newer and shinier ways to approach challenges. We also get to talk a bit about what Chris’ professional life looks like now, and why he still prioritizes his coaching practice this far into his career. You are not going to want to miss this fantastic chat with a true legend, so be sure to listen in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to Chris and CTS' approach to training, as well as their target market.
• The building blocks of a strong training program; loading, recovery, and sticking to the fundamentals.
• How new technology and access to more data is impacting coaching in negative ways.
• Creating effective training plans within common time constraints.
• Chris' strategies for keeping his clients motivated and the vital mental component of inspiration.
• The most important people that have coached and guided Chris on his journey.
• Current coaching commitments for Chris and the handful of athletes he still works with.
• Avoiding the kind of obsessive training that can become unhealthy; Chris' thoughts on balance.
• Advice from Chris to aspiring coaches and the continual process of learning.
• The future of technology, sports, and coaching and the continued need for human involvement.
• The business side of CTS and the constraints that come with running a successful company.
• Chris' 'Crux question'; constant challenges that arise and systems to combat these.