Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad

HUGE STUDY | Nutrition Demands of le Tour de France Femmes | Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 496

Oct 17, 2024

Dr. Jose Areta, a sports nutrition lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, joins the conversation to unpack groundbreaking research on nutrition demands for female cyclists at the Tour de France Femmes. They delve into energy expenditure measurement using innovative methods like doubly labeled water and discuss the impact of energy deficits on performance. The discussion highlights the unique nutritional needs of female athletes, evidencing performance even in caloric shortages, and underscores the importance of tailored nutritional guidelines for maximizing health and athletic output.

55:25

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Episode guests

Jose Areta

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Quick takeaways

The landmark study reveals that female cyclists experience energy demands comparable to male athletes, highlighting the need for tailored nutritional research.

Despite maintaining a caloric deficit, the athlete demonstrated impressive performance metrics, challenging the belief that low energy availability always impairs athletic output.

Deep dives

Understanding Energy Requirements in Female Athletes

A significant focus of the study is the energy requirements of female athletes, particularly in high-demand situations like the Tour de France Femmes. This study aims to fill the existing gap in research, as there is a notable lack of data specific to female athletes. While guidelines for nutrition in sports are largely derived from mixed-gender research, this limited data results in a one-size-fits-all approach that may not be applicable to females. The investigation ultimately highlights the need for more tailored research to effectively support the unique nutritional needs of female athletes.

Intro

2min

Energy Demands in Women's Cycling

14min

Measuring Energy Needs in Athletes

18min

Energy Deficits and Athletic Performance: An Intriguing Case Study

4min

Power Metrics in Women's Cycling

10min

Navigating Nutritional Research in Sports Science

9min

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// TOPICS COVERED

00:00:00 Welcome!

00:00:33 Dr. Areta's Background and Research Journey

00:02:05 Overview of the Case Study on Female Cyclist

00:02:28 Motivation and Significance of the Study

00:08:06 Challenges and Methodology of the Study

00:14:39 Energy Expenditure and Nutritional Tracking

00:26:59 Understanding Variability in Measurement

00:27:54 Energy Expenditure and Intake Analysis

00:29:03 Macronutrient Breakdown and Recommendations

00:32:37 Performance Despite Energy Deficit

00:37:12 Power Data Insights

00:43:58 Challenges in Research and Future Directions

00:51:23 Holistic Approach to Athlete Health

Join Coach Jonathan Lee and Sarah Laverty from TrainerRoad as they delve into a landmark study of the nutritional demands of female pro cyclists with Dr. Jose Areta, a sports nutrition expert from Liverpool John Moores University. They discuss a recently published study that analyzed the energy demands of pro cycling through the lens of analyzing the nutritional intake and performance of a former rower turned professional cyclist. Key topics include cutting-edge research on energy expenditure for women’s cycling, using doubly labeled water to get a more accurate measure of caloric expenditure, the challenges of maintaining performance during energy deficits, and the complexities of weight management, and the broader implications of chronic energy deficits on athletes' health.

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