CYCLING

Few other sports have such high demands on nutrition as cycling. Be-Well is involved in cycling for over 20 years with several world and Olympic Champions in its team. We are the bespoke nutritionist of the UK's best road cycling team Swift Racing Team since 2007 which is one of the most succesful teams in the world. One of the team's riders, Helen Wyman came second in the World Cup in Milano last week. (more below)

Congratuations, Swift Racing Team

 

A Nutritional Plan for Cyclists 

This plan is guaranteed to make you fitter and faster. Every keen cyclist who wishes to imporve his performance should have at leats a basic nutrtional plan which cover the three aspects of nutrition:

1. Base nutrition: Boosting base-metabolism, raises energy output and supports immune function.
2. Energy nutrition: Replenishes carbohydrates, increases glycogen stores and aids recovery.
3. Power and recovery nutrition: Increases power output, stamina and aids repair and recovery.

A simple plan - How it works for you:

Morning	Start the day with a multi-nutrient shake or drink that has all essential nutritents in it (B.active) designed to boost your metabolism, raise energy levels and support your immune function.
Before Exercise	Do not use high carb foods, bars, gels or drinks in the two hours leading up to your race or training. Just stick to coffee, tea or other non carbohydrate drinks.
Start Exercise	Within the 15 minutes before you start your training or race drink 100-200 ml of isotonic energy drink (B.fuel) . Take a drink that combines carbohydrates (8-12%) with proteins (>2%).
During Exercise 45 minutes or less	No energy drink is needed during the exercise if you train moderately for less than 45 minutes. In hot condition you could take some sips of a sportsdrink to re-hydrate. Your own energy-stores should be sufficient.* You must take a recovery drink afterwards.
During Exercise longer than 45 minutes	30 minutes into training or racing start taking 100-200 ml energy drink (containing mixed chain carbohydrates and 2-3% protein) every 10-15 minutes. Don't wait untill you get thirsty, you'll be too late.
After Exercise	Immediately after (less than 30 minutes) practice or racing take 250 ml protein recovery drink (B.gain) plus 500 ml carbohydrate energy (B.fuel) drink. The longer and heavier the exercise the more drink is required. (more about recovery ......)

* In warm condition you should replace lost fluids and electrolytes during and immediately after exercise.

We guarantee that this program will significantly increase your performance almost instantly.

 New developments in sport nutrition

Energy Replenishment During Exercise - Maximal carbohydrate uptake during races and training are of major importance for cyclists when practice or racing is longer than 1 hour. Recent studies show that energy drink which have included 2-3% protein improve the maximum carbohydrate uptake in blood by 5% and performace by up to 16%.

Recovery After Exercise - Recent research shows that drinking a recovery drink within 30 minutes after training containing a combination of 4% proteins and 8% carbohydrates reduce the recovery time from 38 hour to 16 hours.

Power-to-Weight Ratio - A high power-to-weight ratio will ensure that a cyclist is faster and more energy efficient. Low body-fat levels must be balanced with optimum energy delivery. This requires a well-defined diet with specific protein and carbohydrate requirements which are essential to boost glycogen levels and provide the body with its energy storehouse.

Timing is Paramount - The timing of intake of nutrients is paramount – taking the right nutrients during and immediately after a session will boost muscle glycogen synthesis, aid recovery and muscle repair. This will lay down the foundations for the next bout of activity. 

Diet vs. Supplements - When eating a balanced meal is not always possible when needed, the Be-well range of supplements is invaluable. In modern sports supplementation and meal replacement with natural high grade supplements and sport nutrition is standard procedure. 

Be-well have developed a programme of nutrients especially for cyclists, to be taken before, during and after exercise:

• Base: provides all nutirents for a higher base metabolism, increased energy output and support of the immune system. 
• Load: designed to maximise the intake of carbohydrate prior to a major bout of exercise, utilising mainly long-chain glucose polymers.
• Fuel: designed to maintain hydration during exercise whilst providing energy in the form of a combination of carbohydrates with proteins for maximum uptake.
• Recover: combines amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to promote fast and healthy recovery, optimum muscle resynthesis and muscle growth.

Put the Be-Well Nutrition System for Sports and Fitness to the test and increase your pedal power.

Click on any of the products on this page to improve your performance in the saddle.

 

World Cup 2^nd for Helen Wyman

A weekend with 2 races began for the Global Racing riders this weekend in Milan, where round 4 of the Women’s World Cup took place.  On the familiar course in dry conditions, the race was always going to be a ‘flat-out’ race where a good start was essential to avoid a 40-minute chase.

 

Gridded on the front row, Helen Wyman exited the first road section with the front riders and headed towards the first steep bank on the course.  It was clear that any error here would add small gaps and really stretch the field.  Fortunately, there was no such problem and the race was off at a furious pace around the flat but technical parkland.

 

Behind the leading few, a large group was forming including Gabby Day, who was making good progress from the 3^rd row.  Also in this group was Hanka Kupfernagel who was starting her first World Cup of the season.  As the race settled, it was Daphny van den Brand who set the pace, taking Pavla Havlikova away with her.  Behind, it was Helen who took control of the chase leading the group for 2 laps and managing to bring Havlikova back to the group, leaving only Daphny ahead.

 

Despite the effort of the group to regain contact with the lead, it wasn’t to happen with Daphny winning by 18 seconds, ahead of Helen who out sprinted European bronze medallist Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau to take 2^nd.   Gabby Day finished an excellent 17^th on a course that wasn’t best suited to her, a result which will see her push further into the world top 20.

 

It was Helen’s highest ever finish in World Cup race following her 2 third places last season.   Helen said after the race, ‘I’ve been focused on this race being the first race where I’m approaching full pace.  2^nd place is a great finish, my best result ever and I know there’s a lot more to come.  I’ve taken a much slower start to the season this year after being sick around the road worlds.  That illness really knocked me back and I’ve needed to be very patient and just to hold my own in the races to ensure my start gridding isn’t too bad.  Last season I was world number 3 all season but perhaps I paid a little for that towards the end of the season.  After a bigger road season in 2007, I need a break so this season I’m doing things differently and it seems to be working well.’

 

Straight from the race, the riders travelled 650km to Frankfurt for an international cyclo-cross that forms part of the National Cup in Germany.  Despite very heavy rain all weekend, the course was still very solid and was focused on a hillside with 3 descents and 3 climbs.

 

A blistering start saw Gabby Day move into the lead with Helen and Hanka Kupfernagel when they approached the long flight of steps for the first time.  These three quickly moved to distance themselves from the rest of the field until after 3 of the 7 laps, Gabby slipped slightly from the pace, leaving just 2 away. 

 

Helen managed to dominate large parts of the race and on several occasions put a small gap between herself and Hanka, but with the 2 riders so evenly matched it was always going to be a close battle to the line.  On the last lap, Hanka used her huge experience very well and managed to take a small lead on the final decent.  Helen was unable to close the gap to the world time trial champion and finished a very close 2^nd.

 

Meanwhile, behind the lead pair, Gabby managed to stay between the leader and the group chasing for 4^th place.  On the last lap, Gabby extended her lead and finished in a very comfortable 3^rd place, around 45 seconds behind the lead pair.

 

This was another high point in Gabby’s season so far, following her top 10 finished in the Pijnaker World Cup in November.  Gabby has recently re-signed for Global Racing, to be known as Swift Racing in 2008 and will be starting her 4^th season with the team.

 

As recently announced, Swift Racing will use the award winning Museeuw frames in 2008.