The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast by CTS cover image

The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast by CTS

Episode 208: How Carbohydrate Fueling Affects Durability in Long Workouts and Races, with Dr. Gabriele Gallo, PhD

Aug 7, 2024
Dr. Gabriele Gallo, a sports science expert with a PhD in carbohydrate fueling, dives into how carbs boost endurance performance, especially in fatigued cyclists. He breaks down complex concepts like Critical Power and glycogen management, making science accessible to all athletes. Gallo shares essential strategies for maximizing performance through personalized carbohydrate intake and discusses the impact of nutrition timing. This insightful conversation empowers endurance athletes to fuel smartly for long events.
34:25

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Carbohydrate intake during extended workouts preserves muscle glycogen, aiding performance and delaying fatigue, especially at critical power levels.
  • Understanding concepts like critical power and W prime helps cyclists enhance endurance and optimize training strategies for improved performance.

Deep dives

The Role of Carbohydrates in Performance

Carbohydrates play a crucial role in enhancing cycling performance, particularly during extended events. By preserving muscle glycogen through the intake of exogenous carbohydrates during exercise, cyclists can maintain better performance levels. Research indicates that consuming carbohydrates can help mitigate the decline in performance associated with fatigue, especially in maintaining critical power during long efforts. However, while carbohydrate intake aids sustained performance, its impact on anaerobic performance, measured through W prime, may not show similar benefits.

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