Introduction to nutrition and supplements in cycling

Sparks, S. Andy and Clarke, Neil and Gough, Lewis A. (2024) Introduction to nutrition and supplements in cycling. In: Nutrition and Supplements in Cycling. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781032451084

Text Chapter 1. Introduction to Nutrition and Supplements in Cycling.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 1 July 2025. Download (153kB)

Abstract

The need for optimal nutritional strategies has led to the evolution of the generic Applied Sport and Exercise Science practitioner into the Sport and Exercise Nutritionist, and the career of Performance Nutrition, which have become an integral part of elite sport. In cycling, these practitioners have become a vital aspect of the support systems that are designed to enable riders to cope with extremely high training volumes and intensities. The demands on these athletes are severe because of the training requirements, and an often prolonged racing season, during which successive racing days are commonplace. Specific nutritional strategies are therefore vital to optimise performance and health (Clauss et al., 2023). With the increase in nutrition practitioners in high-performance cycling, there has also been a concomitant increase in research interest in cycling nutrition. Indeed, if we consider the sheer number of journal article publications that have been published since the 1980s to the present day, there has been a near-exponential rise, certainly since the year 2000 (Figure 1.1). Improved knowledge and understanding of the most appropriate nutrition strategies have made it easier for practitioners to employ evidence-based nutrition to ensure optimal fuelling prior to and during exercise, maximise recovery prior to the next bout of training or racing, and enhance adaptations to training.The need for optimal nutritional strategies has led to the evolution of the generic Applied Sport and Exercise Science practitioner into the Sport and Exercise Nutritionist, and the career of Performance Nutrition, which have become an integral part of elite sport. In cycling, these practitioners have become a vital aspect of the support systems that are designed to enable riders to cope with extremely high training volumes and intensities. The demands on these athletes are severe because of the training requirements, and an often prolonged racing season, during which successive racing days are commonplace. Specific nutritional strategies are therefore vital to optimise performance and health (Clauss et al., 2023). With the increase in nutrition practitioners in high-performance cycling, there has also been a concomitant increase in research interest in cycling nutrition. Indeed, if we consider the sheer number of journal article publications that have been published since the 1980s to the present day, there has been a near-exponential rise, certainly since the year 2000 (Figure 1.1). Improved knowledge and understanding of the most appropriate nutrition strategies have made it easier for practitioners to employ evidence-based nutrition to ensure optimal fuelling prior to and during exercise, maximise recovery prior to the next bout of training or racing, and enhance adaptations to training.

Item Type:	Book Section
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003375418-1
Dates:	Date Event 1 January 2024 Published
Subjects:	CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Life Sciences
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	27 Jun 2024 15:51
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2024 15:51
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15611

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