UCI Sports Nutrition Project: Considerations and Applications for the Use of Sports Foods and Supplements to Improve Performance in Cycling.

The use of sports foods and supplements has become ubiquitous among cyclists of all disciplines in order to meet energy and nutrient targets and to improve performance and recovery outcomes. This review will provide an overview of the different types of products and the rationale for their use, while highlighting key considerations surrounding the safety and anti-doping risks that supplements pose among athletes. A summary of supplements with a strong evidence base (caffeine, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, beta-alanine, dietary nitrate, and glycerol) and emerging supplements popularized within cycling (exogenous ketones) is also provided, outlining accepted protocols for use, timing, and potential ergogenic effects or side effects.