Fuel for the Pursuit: Why Carbs Matter in Track Cycling
Track cycling is a sport of seconds and sometimes fractions of a second. Riders spend years training to be faster, stronger, and more efficient on the bike. But there is one factor that too often gets reduced to buzzwords or fad diets: carbohydrates.
Carbs are not the enemy
In endurance sports, carbs have been misunderstood. Some athletes avoid them in the name of weight management. Others only reach for them right before race day. The truth is simpler. Carbs are the primary fuel source for high intensity work. They are the body’s fastest and most effective energy supply when the demand spikes.
In the flying 200m or a keirin sprint, there is no time for the body to slowly unlock fat stores. Those efforts are powered almost entirely by glycogen, the form of carbohydrate stored in your muscles. Without adequate stores, the legs will not fire at their true potential.
Timing is everything
It is not just about eating carbs. It is about when and how much. Track cyclists benefit from a steady base of carbohydrates throughout the day to keep glycogen topped up. Then, before intense sessions or competition, targeted fueling ensures the tank is full. Post training carbs are equally important to restore what was used and to prepare the body for the next session.
Think of it as a cycle. Carbs in, power out, recovery in, adaptation out.
The science is clear
Decades of sports science confirm that carbohydrate availability directly impacts sprint capacity, repeatability, and recovery. The body can only store so much glycogen, so consistency is key. Small lapses in fueling add up over the course of a training block, and they show up on the track.
Performance is personal
At Factors®, we believe performance is not just about the bike. It is about the unseen choices that stack up over time: sleep, stress, strength training, and yes, fueling. That is why our system brings all of these inputs together. Athletes and coaches can see how nutrition connects with training load, recovery, and readiness.
Carbs are not just calories. They are the difference between almost and all in. Between surviving the session and thriving through it.
Built for the pursuit
For riders chasing the next personal best or the next world record, the message is clear. Fuel is not optional. Carbs are part of the work.
Performance is personal. Training smarter means eating smarter too.