In this episode of the Fuelled Podcast, I take you behind the scenes of my own race nutrition strategy for the Mallorca 312 cycling event and share the lessons I learned from completing 226 kilometres with far less training than I would normally have before an endurance cycling event. This year has looked very different for me. Between illness, constant travel, and working with a professional cycling team, my own riding volume was significantly lower than usual. By the time I lined up at the start of Mallorca 312, I had only ridden around 900 kilometres in the previous few months — a volume I would normally complete in just a few weeks. Going into the event, my original plan was to complete the 167 kilometre distance. But because my fueling strategy worked so well early in the ride, I unexpectedly made the cutoff for the longer course and decided to continue on to 226 kilometres. In this episode, I break down exactly how I approached my endurance cycling nutrition strategy, including my carb loading plan, pre-race meal, on-bike fueling, hydration, and post-race recovery. I also explain why I strongly encourage endurance athletes and cyclists to complete a race nutrition review after every big event so they can learn from what worked and what didn’t. I share the exact foods I used during my carb load, including how I managed to consume close to 700 grams of carbohydrates while keeping my fibre intake low to support digestion and glycogen storage. I also explain why food choices matter so much during carb loading and how strategic choices can make it significantly easier to hit your carbohydrate targets without feeling uncomfortable or overly full. During the ride itself, I relied heavily on Maurten gels, drink mixes, Haribo lollies, and aid station food like sandwiches and Coca-Cola to maintain energy across the nine-hour ride. I discuss how my strategy evolved throughout the event, what I would change next time, and why I likely needed more fuel once I decided to continue beyond my original race plan. One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is how important it is to fuel based on your goals, your fitness level, and the specific demands of the event. Because climbing is not my natural strength, I intentionally fueled at a higher carbohydrate intake to support my performance in the mountains and help compensate for lower climbing fitness. I also talk about the importance of practicing with your nutrition strategy before race day, including testing gels, drink mixes, jersey pockets, hydration systems, and solid foods during training rides so there are no surprises during an event. This episode is a practical deep dive into endurance cycling nutrition, carb loading for long rides, fueling strategies for climbing events, and how to adapt your race nutrition when things don’t go exactly to plan. Whether you are preparing for your first gran fondo, a long-distance cycling challenge, or simply want to improve your fueling strategy for endurance riding, this episode will help you better understand how to fuel for performance, recovery, and enjoyment on the bike. -- BECOME A FUELLED CYCLIST 🧰 Get your free Nutrition Assessment: https://www.gemmasampson.com/ceacq ⛽️ Join The Fuelled Team: https://www.gemmasampson.com/join    CONNECT WITH GEMMA 🌐 Website: https://www.gemmasampson.com 🎥 Youtube: www.youtube.com/@drgemmasampson  📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/drgemmasampson 🎤 Podcast: https://www.gemmasampson.com/podcast/121 🚴 Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/5723475