Sports nutrition is ‘key part of performance strategies’
When British Cycling achieved its best Road World Championships results for 43 years at Melbourne in October 2010, it showed how far the GB Cycling Team has progressed. Sports nutrition plays a key role in giving the Brits a cycling ‘edge’, but recently they have been benefitting from a new strategy: using protein supplements to get the best out of their bodies.
Nigel Mitchell, Head of Nutrition at British Cycling, explains: “In the past, cycling nutrition focused on energy. But when you exercise, there are changes in the body: muscle is broken and has to be rebuilt. The body uses protein to repair muscle and while a normal diet can supply enough protein for most cyclists, supplementation with a high quality protein can give athletes an advantage. These supplements may help protect the muscles from long-term injury and help the cyclist recover more quickly, train harder and thus improve performance.”
British Cycling turned to CNP Professional, one of the UK’s leading sports nutrition manufacturers, and advocates the use of protein supplements in endurance sports. "Whilst CNP comes from a power sports background, the team have enormous expertise in endurance sports too," says Mitchell. “It’s a very productive partnership.”
CNP now supplies a wide range of products to British Cycling including protein supplements, bars and energy gels. Protein supplements are designed to build, protect and repair lean muscle, without bulking up the cyclists’ bodies. “We’ve been amazed at how well the products have transferred into cycling,” says Mitchell. “For example, several riders have said that Pro Flapjack is the best protein bar they’ve ever had."
Mitchell has no doubt that the emphasis on sports nutrition is getting results. “Both Gatorade and CNP are key to our performance strategies and have supported our excellent results at the recent Road World championships,” he says.
CNP Professional is one of the UK’s leading sports nutrition specialist companies. For more information visit www.cnpprofessional.co.uk, or call +44 (0) 161 368 0942 for sports nutrition advice and +44 (0) 161 368 3850 for sales.