The Tour de France Diet: Cyclists Consume Up to 10,000 Calories Daily

The Tour de France Diet: Cyclists Consume Up to 10,000 Calories Daily During the grueling stages of the Tour de France, professional cyclists face extraordinary physical demands, necessitating an equally extreme dietary regimen. A recent report reveals that riders consume up to 10,000 calories per day, a staggering five times the average human intake. This immense caloric consumption is crucial for maintaining energy levels and performance throughout the multi-week race. According to Lucie Meyer, a nutritionist with one of the teams, the special "Grande Boucle" diet includes approximately 1200 grams of carbohydrates daily, primarily from slow-release sugars, to compensate for the intense efforts on the bike. Cyclists begin their day with a substantial breakfast, followed by a pre-race snack consumed on the bus. Immediately upon arrival at the finish line, they rehydrate with liquids and carbohydrate-rich drinks. Dinner then follows, often supplemented by another snack before bedtime. Team support staff ensure that riders receive continuous nourishment throughout the race. During stages, teams perform multiple "ravitaillement" (refueling) stops, handing out "musettes" – small bags containing vitamin-rich drinks, cereal bars, and energy gels. It's reported that riders consume the equivalent of an entire plate of pasta every hour during the race. One cyclist mentioned having an alarm set every 40 minutes on his bike computer to remind him to eat. The sheer volume of food, including the equivalent of 40 pizzas or 24 hamburgers in a single day, underscores the monumental energy expenditure required to compete at this elite level.

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