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During each stage of the Tour, a small army of team “soigneurs” open the world’s most chaotic drive-thru known as The Provisions Zone.
Science in Sport. The fuel used by Team Ineos. Save on Beta Fuel Gels, Beta Fuel Chews, and Energy Gels.
The Provisions Zone is where riders are going 20mph and get handed up their “lunch” for the day in what is known as a “Musette bag.”
Here is what this year’s riders are getting in their musettes:
1) Hydration and Fuel Bottles
Riders will get two bottles a Hydration bottle and a Fuel Bottle. Here is what is in each:
Hydration Bottle: The first bottle is electrolyte hydration, and Tour leader Tadej is getting Enervit Isotonic Drink Mix.
Fuel Bottle: The second bottle is for high-carb fueling, and if you are Geraint Thomas on Ineos, you are getting SiS Beta Fuel with 80g of carbs per bottle.
2) Gels & Chews
Gels are enormous at the Tour de France, with many riders consuming dozen(s) during the most demanding stages.
If you are on team EF, you are getting the new Neversecond™ C30 Energy Gel.
If you are Tom Pidcock on Ineos, you might be lucky and find one of the tastiest “chews” on the market. I’m a bit addicted to the new SIS Beta Fuel Chews this summer.
3) Bars & Solid Food
Lucky riders might find a small treat from a local patisserie. The soigneurs from each team are known for raiding all the pastry each morning from the patisserie in the start town.
While a pastry is a refreshing treat, the most popular new fuel in the Tour de France is the Maurten SOLID which packs 44g of carbs and is very easy to eat and digest mid-race.
While Maurten only sponsors Chris Froome’s Israel – Premier Tech team, we know of at least six teams using the Maurten Solid Bar at this year’s Tour de France.
4) Ketones
Many teams will also get a “shot” of a Ketone Drink. The riders on Quickstep are all getting KetoneAid, as that is their new team sponsor. Others are using DeltaG, originally developed at Oxford University.
Ketones are an additional fuel tank for the riders providing two advantages during the stage.
First, it helps them burn a mixture of carbs and ketones as fuel, helping them preserve more carbs (i.e., glycogen for later in the race).
Second, the Ketone Esters help the riders stay focused even when exhausted. Ketones are the brain’s preferred fuel source, and boosting mental acuity at the end of the challenging stage can make the difference between crashing and winning the stage.
The secret to the Provisions Zone is not to crash or drop your lunch!
DRG
