Photo credit: SPONSER
Top cyclist talking about competition nutrition and homemade snacks
In this interview, Olympic athlete and Cape Epic winner Vera Looser-Adrian tells us about her nutrition and also shares a recipe for a protein-enriched homemade training snack.
Vera, how does your nutrition look like at important competitions?
That depends on the starting time. If a race starts before 10 a.m. I prefer to eat oatmeal cooked in almond milk. If you put another banana in it, the porridge gets nice and creamy and sweet. For some fat and protein I add a spoonful of almond paste. It also tastes delicious with some POWER PORRIDGE. On road tours the start is often at noon. Then I have an extensive breakfast, almost like brunch. But I take care to eat easily digestible food. Mostly bread with cheese or honey, muesli or oatmeal, a boiled egg. What should never be missing, no matter what time I have breakfast: coffee! The evening before a race I make sure I eat enough carbohydrates. Under no circumstances do I want to go to bed hungry. The stores must be filled the day before the race! During the race I take a LIQUID ENERGY GEL every 30-45 minutes. If a race lasts more than four hours, I eat at least one bar. About 10-20 minutes before a time trial I always take an ACTIVATOR. It gives me the necessary kick and concentration.
Do you have a favourite product from SPONSER?
I love COMPETITION® Cool Mint. Since I grew up in a very hot country and I also like to race in the warmth, COMPETITION® Cool Mint is tailor-made for me. It is refreshing but not sweet and the perfect training and competition companion in the heat. I am also a big fan of the POWER GUMS in cola flavour. I have to pull myself together to make sure that I don't nibble on it in my spare time.
Apart from training and competition: What do you like to eat and drink most?
I love to eat homemade cakes and I like to have a glass of wine.
Do you have a fine recipe that you'd like to share with us here?
I make my own date balls for all my workouts. Since they are made with protein, they are a perfect snack for in between. Here's the recipe:
100g dates
½ cup of oatmeal
1 tablespoon peanut butter or almond paste
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 scoops of WHEY ISOLATE 94 (I like the flavours chocolate or vanilla best)
Mix all ingredients in the mixer. If the mixture sticks too much, add a little coconut oil. Coconut flakes or cocoa powder are suitable for refining.
