'Dehydration could make you climb faster' says top team medical consultant

Thirst and dehydration could make professional riders climb faster, says a doctor who has worked with Team Sky, British Cycling and BMC Racing.

Dr Roger Palfreeman spoke last week at a conference in Doha, Qatar, about the effects of heat in cycling. Spanish newspaper El País printed his comments on losing weight and controlled dehydration to improve performance.

During his presentation, Palfreeman used Team Sky's Tour de France champion Chris Froome as an example of an athlete who may theoretically improve using the controversial method.

"Losing two kilos during the day of a mountain stage, Froome needs 47 seconds less to climb the Alpe d'Huez, which is no small thing considering that in 2015, for example, he won the Tour by just 72 seconds," Palfreeman said.

"And he can lose two kilos through controlled dehydration, drinking less than certain logic would require."

Froome won the 2015 Tour de France thanks in part to his final defence against Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar). Quintana launched an attack on the Alpe d'Huez climb and put Froome on the ropes, but could only gain enough time to move within 1-12 of Froome's eventual win.

The three-time winner's Tour weight is reported around 66 to 67 kilograms. Palfreeman, wrote El País, showed how the all important watts per kilogram changes from 6.25 to 6.45 weighing 65 instead of 67 kilograms. It is based on the need to shed two kilograms through three per cent dehydration.

Palfreeman said athletes can learn to tolerate the feeling that comes with drinking less than what their bodies ask without having it affect their performance. He explained, "Optimum hydration is not balanced hydration".

The process is called "training of thermal perception". To eliminate the worry that they could 'bonk' or become dehydrated, Palfreeman explained that you had to misinform cyclists about their hydration status.

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The article explained that he recommended mouthwash with menthol to deceive their thirst. According to Palfreeman, it also includes paracetamol, a medication used to treat fever, and antidepressant Wellbutrin (bupropion), which helps at 30°C. The article did not say he was giving the medications to Froome.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has not included the medications on its banned list, but has included bupropion in its monitoring programme.

Palfreeman said that cyclist should train to adapt to the heat, as if they are going to compete at 40°C, through dehydration and 40-minute baths in 40°C water.

Team Sky told Cycling Weekly in a statement:"Rider welfare is paramount and so issues such as hydration are carefully managed by our Head of Nutrition and our team doctors."

"Doctor Palfreeman was speaking at a conference in a personal capacity and was not referring to any practices we use at Team Sky."

The article quoted another doctor who said: "I would never reveal the secrets that make a cyclist go faster". He added that nothing that Palfreeman revealed is based on scientific studies.

Doctors have studied the affects of dehydration and certain drugs like paracetamol. A study published in Experimental Physiology in 2013 showed some improved performances, but it may inhibit performance through other mechanisms.