What energy drinks are favored in the Tour de France?

Following the accomplishments of your favourite cyclists, you might have already wondered: what does a professional cyclist eat? Indeed, if you yourself are into cycling, maybe you've wanted to try the same products they use? Today, we reveal which energy drinks are favored in the Tour de France.

Which energy drink do cyclists consume before the effort?

Before the effort, the energy drink (or waiting drink) consumed by a cyclist aims to ensure they start the race perfectly hydrated but also to increase their reserves of carbohydrates and minerals. It should be consumed within ninety minutes before the start of the stage or the race and should be sipped in small quantities so that the body absorbs it slowly.

Which energy drink do cyclists consume during the effort?

In the energy drinks consumed during the race, emphasis is placed on rapid and/or slow carbohydrate intake (to ensure the caloric intake necessary for the cyclist's performance), minerals (to compensate for losses due to sweating), and sometimes amino acids (depending on the effort exerted).
To avoid dehydration, a cyclist must consume at least one 500ml bottle per hour. Depending on the weather and the difficulty of the stage, a rider can thus consume between 6 and 20 bottles per day (even if some may only contain water for rinsing their mouth or spraying).

Which energy drink do cyclists consume after the effort?

After the race ends, the only rule is to promote recovery and replenish energy reserves. This is achieved by drinking a recovery drink that helps the cyclist recover by replenishing their glycogen stores and restoring muscle fibers. Therefore, it contains protein powder (to rebuild muscle), minerals (to compensate for the losses during the effort), and amino acids.
Some cyclists might also consume a drink before bed composed of water and Maltodextrin to provide additional carbohydrate intake for the next day. This also helps with falling asleep.

Now that you know which energy drinks are favored in the Tour de France, how about discovering what the diet of Tour de France cyclists is like?