Neal Henderson began coaching endurance sport athletes in the early 1990’s and founded APEX Coaching in 1999. He is a world class cycling and triathlon coach as well as applied sports scientist who has helped many athletes achieve first-time finishes and has coached numerous national champions, multiple world champions, and several Olympians and Olympic and Paralympic medalists. Neal raced triathlon professionally from 2000-2003 specializing in XTERRA and Winter Triathlon and has earned a master’s national championship jersey in track cycling and age-group national championship titles in winter triathlon and aquabike. He is an Elite USA Triathlon and USA Cycling certified coach and was the 2007 USA Cycling Developmental Coach of the Year. He was also named the 2009 USA National Cycling Coach of the Year and in 2011 was awarded the Doc Councilman Coach of the Year award by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) for the use of science in his coaching. He was also named USA Triathlon’s National Coach of the Year in 2017 having coached Taylor Knibb to ITU Junior and U23 World Championship victories as well as Bermudian Flora Duffy to 2016 & 2017 ITU Elite World Championship titles. Neal coached Rohan Dennis to a UCI Hour Record of 52.491 kilometers in February of 2015 and coached Evelyn Stevens to a women’s UCI Hour Record of 47.98 kilometers in February 2016. Neal has been a staff member at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Games as cycling coach, and has served on multiple coaching committees for both USA Cycling and USA Triathlon. Neal was awarded the Order of Ikkos medal from the United States Olympic Committee in 2016 and also the Australian Sports Medal in 2021 for his coaching of Olympic and Paralympic medalists at those Games. Neal has been based in Boulder, CO for over 25 years and is a committed husband and father of two daughters who still enjoys jumping in cycling races and short distance triathlons from time to time.

Neal Henderson, M.S.

Sports Science Executive | Elite Performance Coach & Consultant

Boulder, Colorado, United States of America

Research Expertise

Principal investigator on multiple sport science research posters and presentations.

About

Publications

Novel Cycling Assessment Protocol Accurately Predicts Power Output At Lactate Breakpoint And Maximum Oxygen Consumption

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

2023

Structured Training Improves Cycling Fitness And Including Dynamic Incline Improves Simulated Climbing Performance.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

2023

Greater Number Of Cardio Sessions, Protein For Breakfast, And Reducing Fatigue Can Minimize Glucose Variability

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

2023

Isometric Strength Training Is Equally Effective As Dynamic For Improving Time To Exhaustion

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

2023

High Intensity Exercise Targets Can Only Be Prescribed Accurately With Multidimensional Assessment Tests

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

2022

Laboratory Performance Evaluations, Time Trial Performance, And Training Intensity Distribution In Elite Masters Cyclists

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

2009

PHYSIOLOGIC RESPONSES TO CYCLING IN BIOMECHANICALLY ADAPTED VERSUS TRADITIONAL CYCLING SHOES

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

2003

Fruit consumption, fitness, and cardiovascular health in female adolescents: the Penn State Young Women’s Health Study

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

1998

Endurance Tests and Assessments

Education

University of Colorado Boulder

Master of Science / 1999

Penn State University

Bachelor of Science / 1995

Experience

APEX Coaching and Consulting LLC

Founder, President / January, 1999 — December

Sole proprietor of self-started endurance sports coaching, sports science services, and consulting S-Corp business. Current business includes 2500 sq ft Performance Center including physiology lab, biomechanics lab, DEXA scanner, and strength and conditioning gym.

Wahoo Fitness

Head of Wahoo Sports Science / January, 2019 — December, 2023

Oversaw buildout of new 9500 sq ft sports science facility and build 10-person sports science research team tasked with the development & testing of hardware & software at Wahoo Sports Science Center in Boulder CO. Developed novel training and testing methods, principal investigator on two of five ACSM published research posters and named co-inventor of Quantitation of Physiological Strain Experienced During Cycling Activity provisional patent application.

The Sufferfest

Chief Science Officer / January, 2018 — December, 2019

Developed novel training intensity prescription method and led all sport science supported research and coaching program implementations for cycling training app including creating multi-intensity target cycling fitness tests and workouts, oversaw integration of strength training, mental training and yoga content and training plans in the app.

Boulder Center for Sports Medicine

Sports Science Director / January, 2001 — December, 2013

Directly supported & supervised physiology lab, biomechanics lab, sports nutrition & coaching programs & staff. Grew monthly revenues by 500% from 2001 through 2012 & doubled size of sports science staff. Principal investigator of two research study posters at ACSM annual meeting.

IBM-BoulderMountainWest Corporate Health

Fitness Center Manager / January, 2000 — December, 2001

Managed business operations, budgeting and staffing of brand-new corporate health fitness center.

The Colorado Triathlete Magazine

Contributing Editor / January, 1999 — December, 2004

Wrote articles about training for and competing in triathlons.

Hershey Medical Centers University Fitness Center

Fitness Coordinator / January, 1995 — December, 1997

Designed fitness training programs for athletes and post-physical therapy patients, authored educational seminars, lectured at public outreach programs and performed personal training.

Cycling Australia

Olympic Time Trial Coach / January, 2019 — December, 2021

Provided Olympic time trial specific location scouting, training and race-day execution for 2020 Tokyo men's Olympic time trial bronze medalist.

USA Cycling

High Performance Consultant, Team USA Olympic Coach / January, 2008 — December, 2016

Provided on-site coaching support for select USA cycling athletes at training camps, world cups, world championships and Olympic Games. Developed & implemented sport science technology integrations with IBM to track athlete performance & improve performance.

USA Triathlon

Elite Winter Triathlon National Team Coach / January, 2006 — December, 2009

Wrote qualification standards, selected athletes for world championships, assisted with travel planning, hired support staff and provided on-site coaching at ITU Winter Triathlon world championships in Europe with elite women's individual and team relay world champions in 2009.

Collegiate National Team Coach / January, 1999 — December, 1999

Camp director and coach of collegiate and junior national teams at the USOC in Colorado Springs and at the 1999 ITU World Championships in Montreal (first draft-legal junior world championships).

University of Colorado Triathlon Team

Head Coach / January, 1998 — December, 2000

Scheduled guest speakers, presented lectures and devised and led triathlon workouts for 100+ member team. Collegiate National Team Champions 1999 and 2000. Coached 3 of 4 Individual Champions in 2 seasons.

Hershey Bears AHL Championship Ice Hockey Team

Strength and Conditioning Coach / January, 1996 — December, 1997

Designed and led off-ice strength and conditioning program for American Hockey League championship winning professional ice hockey team.

Links & Social Media

Who is Coach Neal Henderson

AiRO and APEX Coaching Partnership

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