With the season well underway now and the major classics just round the corner, it’s a busy time for Skil-Shimano carer Frits van der Heide. Frits has done the job at professional cycling teams for nine years now. After stints at TVM, Farm-Frites and CSC, he arrived at the predecessor of the current Skil-Shimano team two years ago. Among his duties, he’s responsible for what the riders eat and drink before, during and after races. ‘All things being equal, everyone gets the same thing during the race. Before the start I can take specific wishes into account, but when they race past a food stop at sixty kilometres an hour, I’m happy if I’m able to hand everyone a bag.’

When the classics come round, Frits finds himself filling ninety or so bottles over more than 200 kilometres. The riders’ preferences change like the weather,’ he continues. ‘You cannot ever take for granted that they’ll want the same thing in their bottle from one week to another. What is true is that they are more likely to ask for nutrition and thirst-quencher if it’s cold and more water if its warm. The Japanese are an exception. They love sugary things, so they almost always go for nutrition and thirst-quencher.’

Frits tries to vary things as much as possible. ‘Some things can be really tasty, but you’ll still get sick of them in the end. I always choose something new at the bakers in the village. Apple pies or fresh fruitcakes are easy to eat. I usually go for fresh; I don’t like that prepacked stuff much. I alternate the sandwiches too. Jam or chocolate spread with banana, custard buns with pineapple, or savoury sandwiches with Philadelphia cheese spread and ham or honey. There are healthy sandwiches for after the finish. They have to be savoury. The riders eat sugary things during the race, so you don’t really please them with that.’  

Start:   
two bottles (water, thirst-quencher or nutrition)
EAS Energy bar
EAS Energy gel
muesli bar
treacle waffle
apple pie
1 or 2 custard buns

Food stop #1
two bottles (thirst-quencher, nutrition or warm lemon tea with honey – only below 6-7)
energy bar
energy gel
soft biscuit
Philadelphia cheese spread and ham sandwich

Food stop #2
two bottles (thirst-quencher, nutrition or warm lemon tea with honey – only below 6-7)
energy bar
energy gel
treacle waffle
2 sugary buns

Finish:
EAS Energy protein shake
healthy sandwich