In a world of marginal gains, pro cyclists such as those in in the Tour de France focus on body composition to improve performance, and you can, too.
Bradley Wiggins is one of the riders whose weight loss has been well publicised in the past. During the 2009 Tour, Wiggins said: “Compared to the 2007 Tour, my weight loss means I’m carrying the equivalent of six bags of sugar less up a mountain. Shedding that weight is all that I can do to give myself the best chance on the climbs other than taking drugs, and I’m not going to do that.”
How do pro cyclists lose weight?
Many pros carefully count calories and weigh food to ensure they're only taking in the fuel they need to perform well in training and race. One typical daily pattern is to eat a balanced breakfast, ride through lunch using energy products and then have an early main meal.
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Wiggins, on the other hand, trained hard before breakfast to speed up his metabolism for the day. He also avoided gluten for two months, and abstained from alcohol completely.
Whatever the chosen method, pros aren't looking for overnight weight loss – it's a gradual process over a period of many months, never losing too much weight too quickly.
There were reports in the press that Wiggins had a body fat of four per cent during the 2009 Tour and this would not be unusual for elite male cyclists. It could easily be imagined that others within the pro peloton have similar body compositions.
Consequences of weight loss
What can I do?
- Alcohol
- Saturated fat
- Simple sugars
- Other fats
- Carbohydrates
- Protein
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