Fast Talk 410: Exploring the New UCI Consensus Statement on Supplements
Feb 12, 2026
Dr. Jamie Whitfield, a human metabolism and performance professor who led the UCI supplements review, discusses evidence-based supplement use in cycling. Short takes cover creatine for sprints, beta-alanine and bicarbonate buffering strategies, nitrates, glycerol for hydration, skepticism about ketones, contamination risks, and how supplement choices depend on discipline and athlete level.
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Team Tried Baking Soda On Race Day
- Trevor recalled teammates passing baking soda at a hill-climb and suffering bloating and gas from untested race-day use.
- He declined to try it because of the visible GI distress.
Load Beta-Alanine For Repeated High-Intensity Work
- Take beta-alanine daily for weeks to raise muscle carnosine and improve intracellular buffering.
- Use it for events with repeated high-intensity efforts (track, cyclocross, mountain bike), not steady long endurance rides.
Different Buffers, Complementary Effects
- Beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate buffer H+ via different compartments, so they can be synergistic when stacked.
- Choose based on practicality: bicarbonate can be acute, beta-alanine requires long-term maintenance.