Best Cyclingscience Podcasts (2025)

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FTP #41: Alannah McKay & Peter Peeling - Ketogenic diets, carbohydrate availability and iron regulation in endurance athletes 52:39

3y ago52:39

52:39

The provision or restriction of select nutrients in an athlete’s diet can elicit a variety of changes in fuel utilization, training adaptation, and performance outcomes. On this episode we discuss the impact of both acute and chronic carbohydrate restriction on iron metabolism, comparing models of periodized carbohydrate availability and ketogenic …

1
FTP #40: Rachel McCormick & Peter Peeling - Iron deficiency in endurance athletes: from diagnosis to treatment strategies 1:14:21

4+ y ago1:14:21

1:14:21

Iron deficiency (ID) is a prevailing nutritional concern amongst the athletic population due to the increased iron demands of this group. Athletes’ ability to replenish taxed iron stores is challenging due to the low bioavailability of dietary sources, and the interaction between exercise and hepcidin, the primary iron-regulatory hormone. This will…

1
FTP #39: Peter Hespel and Chiel Poffé - Exogenous ketones in pro cycling: An update on exercise performance and beyond 1:04:30

4+ y ago1:04:30

1:04:30

On this episode we are talking with Peter Hespel and Chiel Poffé from the University of Leuven / Bakala Academy to provide an update to the topic of exogenous ketones in cycling thanks to their research on this topic. Do ketones improve performance after all? Is there any particular context in which their use is justified? Find out here.…

1
FTP #38: Dana Lis - Collagen supplementation, explosive exercise performance and implications for sprinting 45:04

4+ y ago45:04

45:04

Today we are bringing back Dr. Dana Lis to have her talk us through some recent research on collagen supplementation in the specific context of explosive exercise performance and we’ll discuss if this may have implications for sprinting performance in cyclists.

1
FTP #37: Lewis James & Stephen Mears - Carbohydrate Hydrogel Products in endurance sports: the science behind the claims & beyond 54:16

4+ y ago54:16

54:16

A recent food technology innovation created new CHO drinks and gels with added sodium alginate and pectin in solutions of multiple transportable CHO, with the intention of encapsulating those CHO molecules in the stomach forming a gel which allegedly enables a smooth transportation of the drink through the stomach to the intestine. But are the clai…

1
FTP #36: Kirsty Elliott-Sale & Eimear Dolan - The Female cyclist series: oral contraceptives and exercise performance 1:14:37

4+ y ago1:14:37

1:14:37

On this second episode of this series dedicated exclusively to the female cyclist and endurance female athletes, we are talking again with Kirsty Elliott-Sale and Eimear Dolan about the role of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and exercise performance. This episode was based on a recent Meta-Analysis published by the guests themselves on Sports Medi…

1
FTP #35: Kelly McNulty & Kirsty Elliott-Sale - The Female cyclist series: Menstrual cycle and endurance exercise performance 1:15:31

4+ y ago1:15:31

1:15:31

This is a multi-episode series dedicated exclusively to the female cyclist and other endurance female athletes. On this episode we'll go through a recent Meta-Analysis published by Kelly and Kirsty on Sports Medicine and they'll tell us what they found regarding the influence of the different menstrual cycle phases on exercise performance and how c…

1
FTP #34: Louise Burke, PhD - PART 2: Ketogenic diets for cycling performance: the future of elite endurance sports? 53:40

4+ y ago53:40

53:40

On this part 2 on the applicability of low carb, high fat ketogenic diets in endurance athletes, we will resume our talk and put the spotlight on the exercise activities that could benefit from a ketogenic diet approach, as well as some novel areas such as the impact of ketogenic diets in the oral microbiome (nitrate reducing bacteria), it's effect…

1
FTP #33: Louise Burke, PhD - PART 1: Ketogenic diets for cycling performance: the future of elite endurance sports? 1:05:59

4+ y ago1:05:59

1:05:59

On today's episode with Prof. Louise Burke from the Australian Catholic University, we discuss the current knowledge on the use of low carb, high fat ketogenic diets in endurance athletes, in particulate the research performed by her group with elite racewalkers. Is this diet approach the future of elite endurance sports? Do they have a place in cy…

1
FTP #32: Andrew Jones, PhD - Dietary nitrates and endurance performance: Where do we stand? 1:05:32

5y ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Dietary nitrate supplementation produces an ergogenic effect due to the improvement of mitochondrial oxygen efficiency through a reduction in the oxygen cost of exercise that increases vasodilation and blood flow to the skeletal muscle in recreationally active subjects. Today we are talking with Dr. Andrew Jones from the University of Exeter to fin…

1
FTP #31: Dana Lis, PhD - Using the low FODMAPs diet in pro cycling: a hands-on approach 1:02:04

5y ago1:02:04

1:02:04

Exercise-associated physiological disturbances alter gastrointestinal function and integrity. These alterations may increase susceptibility to dietary triggers, namely gluten and a family of short-chain carbohydrates known as FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols). Today, Dr. Dana Lis talks us through how foods rich in these…

1
FTP #30: Russ Best, PhD - Can taste be ergogenic? From sweet, bitter to thermal tastants 48:46

5y ago48:46

48:46

Over the last decade it has become clearer that taste is not limited to the oral cavity and it can also affect multiple physiological systems resulting in increased exercise performance. On today's episode Russ Best explains how the taste of carbohydrates, caffeine, menthol, capsaicin and bitter compounds can influence exercise performance.…

1
FTP #29: Teun Van Erp, PhD - Load, Intensity and Performance in Professional Road Cycling 43:21

5y ago43:21

43:21

Teun Van Erp, a former Sport Scientist at Team Sunweb developed his PhD on studying the load, intensity and performance of male and female professional riders from Team Sunweb. we’ll go through the training characteristics of pro cyclists, loads, the power zones of cyclists’ when competing, we’ll talk about gross efficiency of pedalling, women vs m…

1
FTP #28: Joanna Bowtell, PhD & Vitor H. Teixeira, PhD - The underrated role of polyphenols in sports nutrition 1:11:30

5y ago1:11:30

1:11:30

Exhaustive or unaccustomed intense exercise can cause exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and its undesirable consequences may decrease the ability to exercise and to adhere to a training program. Dietary and supplemented polyphenols appear to be a promising way of reducing EIMD. On this episode, we go around the latest evidence on this subject a…

1
FTP #27: Helena Trigueiro & Rita Giro, - RED-S & disordered eating in endurance athletes: A nutritionists’ perspective 1:10:46

5y ago1:10:46

1:10:46

RED-S is the broader, more comprehensive name for what was formerly known as female athlete triad (or simply the triad), which was a condition seen in females participating in sports that emphasize leanness or low body weight. As it was also seen in males, the name was changed to the comprehensive term RED-S which may be more frequent than we think…

1
FTP #26: Jamie Pugh, PhD - Probiotic supplementation for health and performance: a balanced overview 1:02:14

5y ago1:02:14

1:02:14

In the last years, research in the area of probiotics has progressed considerably and significant advances have been made in the selection and characterization of specific probiotic cultures. As expected, a growing number of dietary supplements containing probiotics are commercially available worldwide, and the number of products being marketed and…

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FTP #25: Anthony Warner - Viral misinformation and pseudoscience: Beyond the COVID-19 1:15:34

5y ago1:15:34

1:15:34

Anthony Warner aka The Angry Chef will be sharing his strong views on food, diet and scientific mistruths during this sensitive times during the coronavirus pandemic. How can we better filter health-related information in the future?By Gabriel Martins

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FTP #24: Patrick Wilson, PhD (Part 2) The athletes’ gut: The Inside Science of Digestion, Nutrition, and Stomach Distress 53:58

5y ago53:58

53:58

PART 2. The majority of endurance athletes suffer from some kind of gut problem during training and competition. Symptoms like nausea, cramping, bloating, side stitches, and the need to defecate can negatively impact an athlete’s performance. Why are gut problems so common during exercise? And what can athletes do to prevent and manage gut symptoms…

1
FTP #23: Patrick Wilson, PhD (Part 1) The athletes’ gut: The Inside Science of Digestion, Nutrition, and Stomach Distress 49:46

5y ago49:46

49:46

The majority of endurance athletes suffer from some kind of gut problem during training and competition. Symptoms like nausea, cramping, bloating, side stitches, and the need to defecate can negatively impact an athlete’s performance. Why are gut problems so common during exercise? And what can athletes do to prevent and manage gut symptoms that oc…

1
FTP #22: Ida Heikura, PhD student - Periodization of energy and carbohydrate availability for endurance athletes: What's new? 50:40

5y ago50:40

50:40

Discussing the latest research on the implications for health and performance of carbohydrate and energy periodization in endurance athletes. We also discuss some of the recent research on the impacts of ketogenic dieting in markers of bone health in endurance athletes.By Gabriel Martins

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FTP #21: Greg Haff, PhD - Strength training in road cycling: Are we still afraid of lifting weights? 1:17:11

5+ y ago1:17:11

1:17:11

On this episode we talk with one of the greatest specialists in strength training about the still overlooked importance of including properly periodized strength training routines in road cycling. We go around some of the basic concepts of strength training and how to implement it in a regular Pro and Amateur cycling calendar to maximize performanc…

1
FTP #20: Sara Oikawa, PhD - New developments in collagen research: implications for endurance athletes 47:19

5+ y ago47:19

47:19

On this episode we present the latest evidence and limitations on collagen supplementation in athletes and clinical populations through some of the works performed by Sara Oikawa at McMaster University under the supervision of Prof. Stuart Phillips.By Gabriel Martins

1
FTP #19: Graeme CLose, PhD - Nutrition strategies to prevent and treat injuries in cyclists 54:10

5+ y ago54:10

54:10

On this episode Dr. Graeme Close talks us through the nutrition interventions to focus our attention on when dealing with injured cyclists, as well as the preventive aspects where nutrition could also play an important role. We also go through the evidence behind some popular dietary supplements claiming to support recovery in injured athletes.…

1
FTP #18: 2019 Revisited - Yearly Digest 42:17

5+ y ago42:17

42:17

On this episode we go back in time and revisit the best moments of each episode throughout 2019. A sort of teaser if you didn't have a chance to listen to a particular episode. Thank for for staying there during this past year. Have a great 2020! Stay tuned!By Gabriel Martins

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FTP #17: Trent Stellingwerf, PhD - Nutrition and altitude training: Optimizing adaptation, performance and health 1:15:10

5+ y ago1:15:10

1:15:10

On this episode we tackle the main themes surrounding nutritional factors with altitude exposure such as: altered energy availability, Iron status, carbohydrate oxidation, hydration, antioxidant supplementation and other posible hematological and non-hematological considerations while performing altitude exposure.…

1
FTP #16: Melinda Manore, PhD - The female cyclist: Nutrition concerns and research challenges 1:10:29

5+ y ago1:10:29

1:10:29

Although the Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) paradigm has been linked with adverse physiological and performance-related outcomes in men, the synergistic effects of low energy availability on reproductive hormones put females particularly at risk of negative outcomes. The majority of sports-specific nutritional research has been conduct…

1
FTP #15: Bryan Saunders, PhD - Buffer agents in cycling: The role of ß-Alanine and Sodium Bicarbonate 1:05:45

5+ y ago1:05:45

1:05:45

Performance during continuous or intermittent high-intensity exercise can be limited, at least in part, by the accumulation of hydrogen ions (H+) which reduce muscle pH and interfere with muscle contractile and metabolic processes. There is evidence that both ß-alanine and sodium bicarbonate ingestion can enhance exercise performance during single …

1
FTP #14: James Morton, PhD - Part 2: The groundwork of Performance Nutrition in Pro cycling 48:55

5+ y ago48:55

48:55

On this very special episode, Dr. James Morton tells us about the Fuel For the Work Required model and how he went on applying it with Team Sky. We also get into more detail on the effects of protein during races, recovery and considerations for future performance nutrition-related research.By Gabriel Martins

1
FTP #13: James Morton, PhD - Part 1: The groundwork of Performance Nutrition in Pro cycling 36:17

5+ y ago36:17

36:17

On this very special episode, Dr. James Morton talks us through his integration in Pro Cycling while working with Team Sky. This is part 1 of 2 episodes dedicated to this topic. On this first part we will focus on the logistics, planning and coordination required with all the team staff when planning for a World Tour cycling race. On part 2 we'll d…

1
FTP #12: Mark Evans, PhD - Exogenous ketones supplementation in cycling: Competitive edge? 1:05:12

6y ago1:05:12

1:05:12

Endurance athletes are always looking for an edge. That extends to professional cyclists, who are among the fittest humans on earth and who require an inordinate amount of fuel to pedal through grueling mountain stages and time trials during multi-week races like the Tour de France. In the past years, a lot of hype has been going around exogenous k…

1
FTP #11: Daniel Moore, PhD - Protein for Cyclists: Beyond Muscle Hypertrophy 52:57

6y ago52:57

52:57

Appropriate recovery from the stress of exercise is an essential component of any periodized program aimed at maximizing training-induced physiological adaptations and enhancing athletic performance. Prolonged, sustained endurance training sessions exert significant metabolic demands that include the depletion of endogenous fuel stores (e.g., liver…

1
FTP #10: Lewis James, PhD - Cow's milk as a post-exercise recovery drink 55:15

6y ago55:15

55:15

In the latest decade, milk has gone through some rough times. Milk its perhaps experiencing its lowest reputation in the history of mankind. A food that was once praised for its role in children’s growth and as important throughout the life cycle, started its downfall when the Paleo diet came out. Currently, milk still remains quite unpopular in at…

1
FTP #9: James Kennedy (MSc.) - Clean eating obsession, Orthorexia & Chemophobia 1:36:02

6y ago1:36:02

1:36:02

While some parts of the world are concerned with eating, because of food insecurity, the “worried and well-fed” are increasingly obsessed with so-called “clean eating" with an obsessed and unfounded fear of artificial foods, food additives and the inability to accept that in some contexts its ok to exceptionally have foods that are less healthy. On…

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FTP #8: Stuart Phillips (PhD) & Filipe Teixeira (PhD) - BCAAs, Glutamine, HMB & collagen For endurance athletes? (Double guest) 59:35

6y ago59:35

59:35

Branched-chain amino acids, glutamine, collagen and HMB, started as being supplements popular in the fitness world only, but quickly invaded the endurance sports world, particularly cycling. Quite often we see cyclists urging to take glutamine after training to aid in recovery, or BCAAs during training to reduce muscle damage, collagen to protect t…

1
FTP #7: Gabriel Baltazar Martins, MSc. - Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse: Fit for racing? (Solo episode) 21:54

6y ago21:54

21:54

Carbohydrate mouth rinsing can be defined as flushing a carbohydrate-based drink around the oral cavity for certain time, followed by the subsequent expulsion of fluid. Plenty of research associates carbohydrate mouth rinse to positive effects in athletic performance, not only in endurance activities but also with a growing interest in high intensi…

1
FTP #6: Jamie Pugh, PhD - Feeling lighter from start to finish: Minimizing gastrointestinal symptoms in cyclists 59:43

6y ago59:43

59:43

As Sports Nutritionists besides having to properly fuel cyclists during training and racing, there is also an additional challenge we often face. And that challenge is to try our best to minimize GI symptoms in cyclists. We can prepare a rider for months but if one key meal in a moment surrounding or during the race goes wrong, we can jeopardize mo…

1
FTP #5: Dr. Nicky Keay - Bare bones in cyclists: Time to bring “Real” Nutritionists into the sport 58:23

6y ago58:23

58:23

Competitive road cyclists are at risk of developing the health and performance consequences of low energy availability described in the relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) clinical model. Low energy availability can arise unintentionally and/ or intentionally from restrictive nutrition, as cycling is a gravitational sport where low body wei…

1
FTP #4: Kevin Miller, PhD - Pickle juice and the Science behind muscle cramping 53:06

6y ago53:06

53:06

Skeletal muscle cramps are highly prevalent in endurance sports and often affect cyclists during racing events when the intensity of physical exertion is very high and the duration is long. But there is little consensus among coaches and nutritionists on what causes them, being often associated with dehydration and sodium loss. Additionally, the wr…

1
FTP #3: Stephen Cheung, PhD - Thermal stress and Heat adaptation for cycling performance 1:03:10

6y ago1:03:10

1:03:10

Elite cyclists are always seeking to maximize training adaptations to improve racing performance and using altered environmental conditions to achieve this outcome has become increasingly popular among these athletes. Additionally, a series of potencial nutrition and hydration interventions may also optimize the adaptation to altered environments. …

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FTP #2: Sam Impey, PhD - Fuel for the work required. Amplifying training adaptations by manipulating carbohydrate ingestion 57:14

6y ago57:14

57:14

Chronic carbohydrate restriction is still a popular strategy amongst athletes on the weight loss and sports performance realm. Cyclists often restrict carbohydrate ingestion for weight loss purposes, although they recognise the importance of ingesting them to increase exercise performance and also the consequences of restricting them. In the last y…

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FTP #1: Javier González, PhD - Breakfast for Cyclists: Should they deplete before they eat? 1:10:44

6y ago1:10:44

1:10:44

Defining breakfast and discussing the effects of skipping breakfast and training in a fasted state on training adaptations and metabolic outcomes such as increased fat oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis. Here we will also talk about what would be the ideal breakfast composition depending on the type of cycling race event in order to maximize pe…

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FTP #0: Host & show presentation 3:45

6y ago3:45

3:45

Hello everyone and welcome to the fuel the pedal podcast. Your source of Science based nutrition… for cycling only. It is a tremendous pleasure to be here. My name is Gabriel Martins and I’ll be your host hopefully for a long time. First, let me give you a bit of info on my background and why in the world am I doing this in the first place. Im a Po…

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