What does nutrition really look like behind the scenes of professional cycling?
In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport talks with sports dietitian, former professional cyclist, and EF Pro Cycling nutritionist Kristen Arnold, MS, RDN, CSSD.
Kristen takes us inside the world of professional cycling nutrition—from morning hydration checks and chef-prepared meals to feed zones, heat protocols, gut training, and individualized carbohydrate testing.
We cover:
• Why nutrition has become such an important part of cycling performance
• What a sports dietitian actually does during a professional stage race
• Why simply eating more carbohydrates isn't the whole story
• How gut training can improve an athlete's ability to tolerate race fueling
• Why nutrition needs change with heat, intensity, and course demands
• The challenges of getting nutrition to riders during a race
• Why health and performance need to work together—not compete with each other
• What everyday cyclists, runners, and triathletes can learn from the pros
You don't need a World Tour nutrition team to fuel better. But you do need a strategy that works for your body, your training, and your goals.
*Kristen notes that cycling oxidation rates can be 75-160g per hour (not 170g)
Learn more about Kristen Arnold here: https://www.sportsnutritionforwomen.com
Learn more about metabolic and sweat testing at The Endurance Edge to personalize your fueling and hydration needs: https://www.theenduranceedge.com/sweat-and-metabolic-vo2max-testing/
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