"I fogot to eat!" - Is this a real problem for the peloton and how do we fix it?

[fmk_RoI]

Biniam Girmay after a poor Gent-Wevelgem: I forgot to eat!

Tom Pidcock after a poor Ronde van Vlaanderen: I forgot to eat!

Demi Vollering after a poor Brabantse Pijl: I forgot to eat!

Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times in the space of a fortnight?

Option 1: these riders are being sponsored by Supersapiens in an attempt to convince fans and the authorities that this is a real problem, a problem that only the use of their subcutaneous glucose monitoring devices can solve.

Option 2: this is just a different way of saying "I didn't have the legs, Frank!", a trite cliché that fills space without saying anything interesting.

Option 3: this is a real, serious problem and only we can solve it!

Which do you think it is and how do you propose we ensure that, in future, no rider forgets to remember to not forget to eat?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Just hire Carlos Betancur and Jan Ullrich as nutritional experts.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Cycling is a much more complete sport. It's not only about having the legs or in the parlace of nowadays data-narratives, about W/kg.
It comprises strategic thinking, positioning and self-knowledge. Eating when and what is part of that.
If you bonk because you "forgot" to eat it's all your fault. It's not about fixing anything.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Just hire Carlos Betancur and Jan Ullrich as nutritional experts.

Brace for letters of complaint from Easily Offended of Tunbridge Wells!

 

[SafeBet]

Scouts will have to test a rider's memory in the future. Seems like a crucial skill to have...

 

[Red Rick]

It's a performance problem, not a health problem so I don't really think it's on "us" to fix anything.

It might occur a bit more with racing getting more aggressive, chaotic and finales being longer.

As for people using it as an excuse, I think it's quite plausible when riders go from like being in the 5 best riders in the race one moment to finishing 8 minutes down an hour later.

 

[firefly3323]

Which do you think it is and how do you propose we ensure that, in future, no rider forgets to remember to not forget to eat?

There has gotta be a drug for that, right?

 

[frisenfruitig]

I would like to weigh in on this issue and suggest that the solution is not forgetting to eat. Mindblowing and out of the box solution, I know.

 

[StryderHells]

Nutrition is a thing, have you never bonked on a ride? This thread is confusing, are you bored and need attention or is it something else?

 

[Netserk]

Yet another good argument for the ban of radio for the riders during races. Dumb and forgetful riders deserve to bonk more often.

 

[jmdirt]

Of your three options, #2.
Racing is hard.
Sometimes its about timing.
Situational...

 

[houtdffan]

Just hire Carlos Betancur and Jan Ullrich as nutritional experts.

Strudel Boy!

 

[Red Rick]

Yet another good argument for the ban of radio for the riders during races. Dumb and forgetful riders deserve to bonk more often.

You'll never get a chase again and Evenepoel just farms every race happy now?

 

[Netserk]

You'll never get a chase again and Evenepoel just farms every race happy now?

That’s the transition cost.

 

[ice&fire]

Riders need food at hand when they recall they have to eat. And we've seen them very often failing at getting their food from the team assistants at the road side. Maybe they should ride with a lunchbox.

 

[Nick2413]

I think not taking in enough cals can cause trouble even when someone does remember to eat. Especially in hard long races like these classics. Then the issue gets phrased as forgetting to eat.

 

[rallybanana]

Bring back café raids. Put the fun back into eating and drinking.

 

[Red Rick]

Riders need food at hand when they recall they have to eat. And we've seen them very often failing at getting their food from the team assistants at the road side. Maybe they should ride with a lunchbox.

Great now I'm imagining that instead of soigneurs standing there with the goodie bags it's all the riders moms with lunch boxes.

 

[rallybanana]

Riders need food at hand when they recall they have to eat. And we've seen them very often failing at getting their food from the team assistants at the road side. Maybe they should ride with a lunchbox.

The simple solutions are always the best ones. If bikes have a bottle cage, why did nobody ever think of adding a lunchbox cage?

 

[Nick2413]

An IV glucose drip is the only real solution

 

[Pirazziattacks]

I don't understand the point being made here. A lot of riders these days aim to consume ~120g of carbs per hour when racing, mostly from drinks and gels plus the occasional bit of solid food. That's not always easy to get right when you add in the chaos of racing, potentially missing feeds, trying to eat when your heart rate's through the roof and that sort of thing.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Maybe they should ride with a lunchbox.

Attached to the handlebars or swinging from the back of the saddle? I like the idea of lunchbox hanging from the back of the saddle.

 

[fmk_RoI]

An IV glucose drip is the only real solution

What, like this?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1646483529558118401

View: https://twitter.com/fmk_RoI/status/1646483529558118401

 

[ice&fire]

Attached to the handlebars or swinging from the back of the saddle? I like the idea of lunchbox hanging from the back of the saddle.

This might develop into a technological race for the most aero lunchbox. Like helmets, you know.

Great now I'm imagining that instead of soigneurs standing there with the goodie bags it's all the riders moms with lunch boxes.

But they'd need to carry their lunch from the start of the race. It'd be like moms sending kids to school.

 

[fmk_RoI]

This might develop into a technological race for the most aero lunchbox. Like helmets, you know.

Pogačar's lunchbox would have a little tuft of salad leaves peeking out the top.