Alex Cataford and Maurten products

Professional cyclist with Israel Startup Nation and former teammate of Bruno Langlois, Canadian Alex Cataford explains how Maurten nutritional products have improved his ability to fuel himself during competitions without experiencing the unpleasant side effects often associated with sports nutrition products. 

Alex, like many runners and athletes, you have sometimes experienced digestive problems during competitions, haven't you?

Yes, in the past I had problems with nutrition during stage races. After several days of consuming sports products, I often had stomach pains and lost my appetite. Since I switched to Maurten products, this has never happened again. I can eat them for 21 days of competition without any problems.

How do you plan your nutrition for races?

This is decided with the team's nutritionists and depends greatly on the type of race. A flat stage that ends in a sprint does not require the same nutrition plan as a mountain stage.

Can you give us a specific example of a nutrition strategy for a difficult event?

In a mountain stage, you need a large amount of carbohydrates. Fortunately, this is quite easy with Maurten products. For the first hour, I'll take a 320 bidon . After that, every hour, bidon 160 bidon , with two 100 gels. Just before the last hour, to finish the race, I take a gel with caffeine, and another bidon . 

With these products, I can easily reach my goal of consuming 75 to 100g of carbohydrates per hour.

You said that these products don't cause you digestive problems and don't spoil your appetite. What do you think explains that?

What I particularly like is that they don't have a very strong taste. Over time, sweet products end up making me feel sick and uncomfortable. The challenge is still to meet my carbohydrate requirements while feeling good. Obviously, this works wonders for me.