Sports
André Lopes on Training and Coaching in Boulder, Colorado
Based in Colorado since 2019, the pro triathlete breaks down his technical routine and endurance sports culture in the US.
Living in Boulder since late 2019, André Lopes balances pro training with coaching age-groupers. Speaking on Café com Tri, he discusses the endurance mecca's training scene and the cultural differences between Brazilian and American triathletes.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, since late 2019, professional triathlete André Lopes balances his high-performance athletic preparation with endurance coaching. An engineer by training, André turned to coaching as a way to financially support his endurance career after working various jobs across the United States, including stints as a waiter, lifeguard, and swim coach.
With his competitive sights set on qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in Kona—aiming for a top-10 finish on the Big Island within the next five years—and winning a full-distance event, especially Ironman Florianópolis, André structured his coaching business alongside Wagner Spadotto primarily to serve athletes living in the US.
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Cultural differences between Brazilian and US age-groupers
Currently coaching around 15 athletes entirely online via TrainingPeaks, André notes that the dynamics of age-group triathlon in the United States differ sharply from Brazil. While Brazilian training groups function as vibrant communities and in-person social clubs, American amateurs tend to be much more independent.
In the United States, athletes typically look for customized training plans tailored to their work schedules without relying on structured group workouts. While group rides and runs hosted by brands, coffee shops, or local bike shops are common, participants use the pack to train together while still sticking to their own individualized workouts, lacking the tight-knit team identity typical of Brazilian triathlon squads.
Boulder's training scene and endurance camps
Widely known as the endurance capital of the world, Boulder brings together Olympic champions, world record holders, and a dense community of elite coaches and athletes. For André, the city is a training playground: the infrastructure allows him to leave his doorstep and ride over 60 miles without interruption on paved or gravel roads, alongside immediate access to running trails.
Taking advantage of Colorado's altitude and natural terrain, André and Wagner host training camps for age-group triathletes. Their next confirmed camp is scheduled for the second week of August, serving as strategic prep for athletes racing the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga.
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