Cycling is so full of mind-boggling jargon that it almost threatens to spoil the fun sometimes. If it isn’t the intricacies of power measurement, it’s the physiology of fuelling or the PhD-level physics behind wind-cheating aerodynamics. The latest buzzword to get us grappling with its significance is ketones, described by some as a groundbreaking legal performance-enhancing supplement. More and more WorldTour teams are announcing partnerships with providers of the mysterious drinks, which are becoming hard to ignore. But what exactly are ketones and do they really live up to all the hype?
This much is clear: ketones have become ubiquitous among the pros, as I found out for myself at Paris-Nice in March. On several stages, as riders crossed the finish line, they grabbed coats, Haribo and, in some cases, ketones from waiting soigneurs before making their way back to their team buses. Soudal Quick-Step were one of many teams seen using the drinks, and were active on social media during the race sharing videos of Remco Evenepoel guzzling sponsor KetoneAid’s products post-stage. As I witnessed this new phenomenon, a multitude of thoughts crossed my mind.
