Carbohydrates provide your muscles with extra energy. It is therefore wise to take them extra prior to climbing Mont Ventoux. Research shows that it is sufficient to take extra carbohydrates one day before a tough climb. You do this by taking 7 to 12 grams of carbohydrates per kilo of body weight over a whole day. Of course, it is important to divide this over small meals at two-hour intervals. Avoid too much fat, but also high-fibre carbohydrates, such as legumes and wholemeal products. This is because this will cause you to retain more fluid, and these in turn are extra kilos to drag up the mountain (www.bicycling.com, 2024). 

On the day of the climb

On the day of the climb, make sure your breakfast is finished two hours before the start. Four sandwiches with sweet toppings and a glass of fruit drink is an excellent start (www.bicycling.com, 2024).

A surprise that you really don't want to have is running out of food whilst you are on the mountain. Because without food you are worth nothing. Because you are going to run out of energy. This is of course easily overcomable by just preparing and bringing enough food with you (Spiering, 2024).

On the day itself and the day before, it is important to eat a lot of carbohydrates, as this is what your body converts to energy, this will help you keep it up during cycling. Bring sports bars that are rich in nutrients. It is best to eat a bar every half hour and drink every 15 minutes, this way you will keep your energy up. After the climb, carbohydrates and protein rich nutrients are most important for recovery. Drinking enough water is also really necessary for recovering your body (Spiering, 2024).

Mr. Scholten (2024) also strongly suggests bringing some oat bars and some other foods that are easy to eat.