Tag: Pro cycling

In 2016, cyclist Simon Geschke adopted a vegan diet and went on to ride nine Tours de France, proving that elite endurance sports and a plant-based lifestyle are compatible. While not the majority, a growing number of professional cyclists have embraced veganism, challenging traditional notions of sports nutrition.

Retired pro cyclist Adam Hansen, known for racing 20 consecutive Grand Tours, indicated that his vegan diet gave him superior health markers compared to his teammates. This success is just one example among many showing that professional cyclists can not only compete but thrive on a plant-based diet, challenging long-held assumptions about meat-based athletic fueling.

Elite cyclists in the Tour de France can burn up to 10,000 calories on the hardest mountain stages, necessitating a scientific, precisely-timed nutritional intake to sustain peak performance over three weeks. This complex feeding schedule is a critical factor distinguishing winners from the rest of the peloton.

During a single day at the Tour de France, some elite racers consume up to 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour, often relying on energy gels for quick and efficient fueling. To understand the meticulous science behind this high-level strategy, we must investigate what gels do pro cyclists use to power their performances.