Inside Adageo: Part 2
Adageo Energy Pro Cycling team director Josh Horowitz shares his team’s secrets for staying in top form.
TL: What’s the team’s diet like?
JH: My secret is to stick to a very low glycemic diet, so complex carbs, things with a lot of fiber and protein and staying away from sugar. I’m a big opponent of sugar. I used to laugh at those people who say that sugar is the devil, but I’ve learned more about it and I steer everyone away from sugar. Now I focus on complex carbohydrates, lots of protein and fat as well. And not reduced calories or anything because when you’re training 35 hours a week you need all the calories you can get, but it’s important where you get them from. You want foods that are going to be long-lasting sources of energy, not ones that will spike your blood sugar.
TL: How do you stay hydrated during training?
JH: We use Endurance Fuel® on the bike and after workouts. It’s got that four-to-one ratio of carbohydrates to protein, which has been shown to be a really effective way to deliver these nutrients. This has some good vitamins, whey protein and beta-alanine, which is a great supplement for endurance athletes. We call beta-alanine the creatine of endurance athletes. It’s good stuff. Most of the guys, when they’re racing, have it mixed into their bottles throughout the ride.
TL: How important is recovery in your sport?
JH: Cycling is 90% about recovery. We race sometimes for weeks at a time. It’s not just about who’s the strongest on the bike. It’s about who can recover and come back the next day strong again. We always say the recovery process starts while you’re still on the bike. You shouldn’t wait until you get home and shower to start thinking about recovery. That’s why Endurance Fuel is such good stuff. I start the recovery process while I'm still riding, and then have another bottle with it when I get off the bike.* We’ve also been using Glutamine Fuel® and HMB Fuel®, which is good at helping to prevent muscle breakdown.* When you’re exercising you don’t want your muscles to be a limiting factor. Your heart and your lungs can recover pretty quickly from day to day, but once you really damage your muscles they’re not going to recover all that quickly. That’s why it’s really important to make sure you do everything you can to prevent muscle breakdown.
Click here to see part 1 of this interview.
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