Garmin acquires TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic: What does this app coup mean for cyclists?

​Conclusion: Exciting times for data-driven cyclists

Garmin’s acquisition of TrainingPeaks is a logical step for two companies that have been working together for over a decade. For cyclists who value structured training and detailed performance analysis, this merger could bring real added value in the medium term – provided Garmin makes clever use of the potential of both platforms. It will be interesting to see what specific innovations follow.

Garmin has announced the acquisition of TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic – two digital platforms that have been standard kit for ambitious amateur athletes and professionals for years. This news is likely to be particularly exciting for cyclists looking to take their performance to the next level with structured training plans and data-driven coaching.

TrainingPeaks – the endurance expert

TrainingPeaks has been regarded for years as one of the leading solutions for structured endurance training. Performance metrics such as TSS (Training Stress Score), CTL (Chronic Training Load) and ATL (Acute Training Load) have, thanks to TrainingPeaks, become part of the daily routine for both amateur and professional cyclists. Coaches all over the world use the platform to create bespoke training plans for their athletes and analyse their progress.

TrainHeroic, on the other hand, focuses more on strength and performance-oriented training – which is also relevant for cyclists who wish to improve their athletic ability through targeted strength training.

The Garmin ecosystem continues to grow closer together

Both platforms will now become part of the Garmin ecosystem. Garmin Co-COO Brad Trenkle emphasises that the acquisition is intended to expand access to authentic coaching experiences: “Bringing these successful platforms together will connect athletes with professional coaches who will guide, motivate and inspire them to achieve their goals.”

For cyclists who already train with a Garmin cycle computer such as the Edge 1050 or a Garmin smartwatch, this sounds tempting: anyone who already syncs their training data via Garmin Connect could, in future, benefit even more seamlessly from deep integration between hardware and training planning. Whether this will mean, in practice, that TrainingPeaks analyses appear directly on the Garmin display or that training sessions are transferred automatically remains to be seen – Garmin has not yet provided any technical details regarding the integration.

What will change for existing users?

First and foremost: stay calm. The approximately 120 employees at TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic are joining the Garmin workforce, and day-to-day operations will continue as normal. Andy Stephens, CEO of the parent company Peaksware Holdings, is optimistic: “We are delighted to be working with Garmin to advance our mission of empowering coaches and athletes through science-based training.”

For existing TrainingPeaks subscribers, little is likely to change in the short term. In the long term, however, it is reasonable to assume that Garmin will integrate the platforms more closely into its product ecosystem – to the benefit of all those who already rely on Garmin devices.