Behind the Ride

Latest Stories

Road Training

All Natural, Low Cost, High Carb: Is Maple Syrup the Perfect Alternative to Gels?

High-carb fueling has blown up pro racing. Now scientists want to discover whether you can join the 'carbohydrate revolution' using only maple syrup.

Jim CottonSeptember 15, 20261

Road Racing

Bra Doping Won't Make You Faster: Aero Sleuths Disprove UCI Fears of 'Chest-Maxxing'

After controversy at the Tour de France Femmes, new study suggests there's no free speed to be found hidden in a sports bra.

Jim CottonSeptember 8, 2026

Road Training

When Is It Too Smoky to Ride Outside? A Cyclist's Guide to Air Quality

Wildfire smoke and air pollution are increasingly health risks athletes have to contend with. Here's how athletes can assess risk and adjust their workouts when the air quality index is poor.

Jim CottonAugust 21, 20263

Vuelta a España

Pogačar 2019 Vuelta Debut vs. Pogačar 2026 Vuelta Return: How the GOAT Evolved

Comparing the training, nutrition, tech, and mindset Pogačar brought to the 2019 Vuelta a España to now charts his journey from boy wonder to world-crusher.

Jim CottonAugust 14, 20261

Tour de France

How 600 Calorie Fueling and a $60M Arms Race Made 2026 the Fastest Ever Tour de France

The peloton hit warp speed to make 2026 the fastest-ever Tour de France. These two things had an outsized impact on accelerating the race.

Jim CottonJuly 28, 2026

Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar Might Be the Greatest Cyclist of All Time. New Estimates of His VO2 Max Prove It.

New study reconfirms Pogačar as a physiological freak and adds a fresh layer of context to his Tour de France dominance.

Jim CottonJuly 30, 20263

Tour de France

What You Need to Know About the Next-Gen Fuel Powering Pogačar at the Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar is using a wave of first-ever lactate gels and drinks that could transform pro cycling. But their full performance impact remains a mystery.

Jim CottonJuly 22, 20262

Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar and UAE Confirm Use of Powerful New Fueling Product at the Tour de France

Enervit launches lactate-carbohydrate drink at the Tour de France after two-year trial with Team UAE. The product rivals the ExoLactate gels first reported here by Velo.

Jim CottonJuly 16, 2026

Tour de France

How Your Kid’s Favorite Krispie Snack Took over the Tour de France

The Tour de France is going crazy for home-made cereal and mallow treats after the high-carb fueling boom forced the exile of 'real food' from the peloton.

Jim CottonJuly 16, 20262

Tour de France

We Just Saw the Fastest Ever Stage of the Tour de France. It Felt Inevitable.

Stage 11 of the 2026 Tour de France crushed a record that stood for more than 25 years as pro cycling progresses to a new level of speed.

Jim CottonJuly 15, 2026

Tour de France

Ranking the 7 Most Marginal Gains of the 2026 Tour de France

These small things can be done by you at home and might boost your performance in training. But are they worth your time?

Jim CottonJuly 15, 20261

Tour de France

Heat Training Is a Non Negotiable for the Tour de France—And It’s About a Lot More Than Climate Acclimation

A new focus on heat training helped drive the high-speed evolution of the Tour de France. Here's why this workout niche became essential.

Jim CottonJuly 12, 2026

Tour de France

What a Tour de France Rider Eats in a Day: Breaking Down the 8,000 Calorie Menu

The gut-buster diet of a Tour de France rider looks like it's been inspired by both a kid's party and a boutique restaurant. Here's what's on the menu and why.

Jim CottonJuly 9, 20262

Tour de France

Tour de France Riders Are Using a Secretive New Fueling Solution That Could Blow Endurance Racing Apart

Velo speaks with founder of a world-first lactate energy gel that could mark as big a performance breakthrough as high-carb fueling.

Jim CottonJuly 8, 20263

Tour de France

The 2026 Tour de France Will Be the Fastest Edition Ever. Here Are 5 Reasons Why.

We're betting this will be the first Tour de France to crack 43kph average speed. Here's how a rare cocktail of ingredients will ignite the race.

Jim CottonJuly 1, 20261

Road Training

No More Bonking, No More Gut Rot: This Test Will Fix Your Fueling Problems

ExoAnalytics wants to cut the guesswork from high-carbohydrate fueling by taking testing used by the pros out of the lab.

Jim CottonJune 17, 2026

Road Training

Cycling is a Disaster for Bone Health – Here’s How to Stop your Skeleton Turning to Chalk

The UCI calls cycling a 'perfect storm' for bone loss. Here are the dietary and training fixes you need to avoid stress fractures and osteopenia.

Jim CottonJune 13, 20265

Road Training

This Revolutionary Energy Gel Will Transform the Tour de France. It Contains the Last Thing You’d Expect.

A project led by former Ineos scientist achieved what Pogačar and UAE Emirates couldn't and solved one of the oldest puzzles of sports nutrition.

Jim CottonJune 1, 20262

Road Training

These 3 Training Tools Used by Pros Could Be Coming for Your Weekend Group Ride

What's the next training game-changer after heart rate monitors and power meters? These 3 methods have huge potential but remain beyond reach.

Jim CottonMay 27, 2026

Road Training

Sleep Better, Ride Faster: The Ultimate Guide to Sleep for Cyclists

Sleep is the recovery tool every cyclist neglects. Here's how much we need, how to sleep better, and what we can learn from the pros.

Jim CottonMay 19, 20262