One in five amateur riders are putting their health at risk by under-fuelling - I was one of them

Could you be affected by cycling’s hidden under-fuelling epidemic? Here’s how to spot the signs and meet your energy demands

Red-S underfuelling
(Image credit: Future)

Cycling Weekly survey has shown that under-fuelling in cycling has reached epidemic proportions. In a survey of 868 riders, one in five riders indicated that they are putting their health at risk by failing to properly replenish energy. Are you among them? The likelihood is greater than you might think.

My own experience of under-fuelling began almost a decade ago when my periods stopped in my early 20s. I asked a coach if I should be worried. “Not at all,” she responded. “When I was a pro, no one had periods.”

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