The interview with rebellin he hit the mark: for the story itself and for his (barely mentioned) eating habits. Gianluca Brambilla, with whom we spoke shortly after, also mentioned a training session they did together in 2019, referring to the Veronese player. the unique homemade bars that David had with him.
«They will be 4-5 years ago I moved towards vegetables – Rebellin said – I have eliminated meat at home, every now and then I eat eggs or fish. I feel like I'm recovering betterIt's different at races, because you can't always find chickpeas and other protein-rich vegetables around, nor can I bring a suitcase full of food. But I think you can do high-level activities like this too, and I think this will be a trendMeat has its properties, but also many toxins."
At this point, curiosity sparked, and with it, a second call, to find out when the change in habits had occurred and why. And Davide, with his usual courtesy, played along, opening up to us. a world of habits that will certainly lead to further insights.
When did you start cutting out meat and why?
It's been 5 years, but it's been a gradual transition. It was born for an ethical question, transmitted by my wife FanfanShe used to eat it normally, too, but since she has a great passion for animals, she's slowly started to give it up. And I have to say, we're doing fine.
All meat without distinction?
The first one we eliminated was the red one, continuing to eat chicken, fish and eggs, but choosing products whose origin we knew. Then gradually we began to eliminate the rest as well, so much so that we rarely eat any eggs anymore, but only those produced by a neighbor of ours. At the races, obviously, things are different, I couldn't get by with just plain rice, so I bring a suitcase of products with me. And when they run out, I try to make do.
Let's proceed in order, then. What do you have for breakfast?
I usually wake up at 6:30-7 a.m. and do 20-30 minutes of bodyweight exercises, for abs, back, and more general core stability. I've been doing it every day for a couple of years: a complete program, almost half a workout on an empty stomach. But first I drink a nice cup of water in which I dissolve a coral-based preparation. of Coral Club (a Russian company that also has stores in our country) which is called Coral MineIt is obtained from a coral native to OkinawaI prepare large bottles of it and when I wake up I drink half a liter.
The actual breakfast?
I like to eat salty food. So usually a plate of brown rice or amaranth rice, or millet or quinoa, which are also starting to appear in the diets of riders at races. I used to eat a lot of cereal and rice milk, but there was too much sugar. I season the rice with coconut oil otherwise, if I want it to be a little sweet, I add raisins or walnuts.
Why coconut oil?
Don't get me too technical, but let's say it has various properties, including that of many saturated acids that have a slow release of energy, which are great for supporting physical effort. I still drink green tea at the table. I drink a lot. Let's say that between waking up and breakfast, I drink at least a litre of liquids.When I cook rice, I don't drain the water: I add a little, but I swallow that too. In the first hour of cycling, I also stop three times to go to the bathroomBut drinking is important.
Brambilla told us he saw you bringing in some homemade bars.
My wife makes them, right. The Rebelbombs, that's what we call them. He does it with hemp or buckwheat flour, gluten-freeI always carry them with me. On my site for a while we had even thought about selling the recipes. It worked initially, but we didn't have time to keep up with them and now they're still there.
And when you don't have your wife's candy bars?
I have similar ones, produced by On EnergyThey are organic and gluten-free. If I don't have any, I also eat dates or dried fruit while running, easy to pack and carry in your pocket and release immediate energy. They are not a big expense and they do not overload the liverLet's say that if I go away for a stage race, my wife's bars cover the first two days, then I move on to the others.
Let's go back to when you're at home: if you're out, as you said, even for six hours at a time, you'll definitely skip lunch...
Exactly, but I don't always do those distances. In fact, if I do 2-3 hours, I always bring something to snack on so I don't get home too hungry.When I get home, I usually have a snack, some fruit. Bananas, avocado, or one of my wife's bars. I still drink coral water, maybe in a herbal tea. Let's say that I usually come back between 15 and 16 pmIf I come back later, instead of eating, I just drink. My wife makes a lot of vegetable broths, maybe I'll drink some of those.
And how do you get to dinner without… eating the furniture too?
We have dinner early, between 5:30 and 6:00 pm.These are the times when we assimilate best, like our grandparents returning from the fields. There's also time to digest before going to bed, although there are several hours until breakfast. So if I get hungry, maybe before going to sleep. I snack on a potato or an apple or fresh seasonal products.
What does dinner consist of?
It's a hearty meal. I start with a plate of raw vegetables, salad, cabbage or carrots dressed with olive oil. Then a large plate of rice or quinoa, amaranth or millet, usually not the same one I ate for breakfast. Then very protein-rich legumes like lentils, beans, or chickpeas. Oddly enough, we don't even put glasses on the table. Let's drink first, to arrive at the table well hydratedSometimes when we have guests, it's funny because we don't even set out glasses for them... And at 21pm we go to bedI first drink a herbal tea or even hot vegetable broth, especially in winter.
What does all this lead to?
To the fact that I recover better, immediately and the next day, I am less intoxicatedThe body does not have to eliminate the toxins from meat, which tire it out. In fact I get my proteins from vegetables, but my diet is very high in carbohydrates, which in my opinion should be the basis for doing sports.
You didn't mention pasta.
Sometimes I consume rice or chickpea pasta, which produces Pedestrian of Vicenza, Specializing in all things legume. They make quick, very useful, and even tasty preparations. When I eat pasta in the morning, I usually prepare 250 grams. My rule of thumb is never come home hungryIt's best to eat small snacks throughout the day.
And during the race, after the finish, what do you eat?
It's important to do it right away, adapting to the schedule. So as soon as I arrive I change and have with me a shake with bananas, gluten-free oat flakes, buckwheat flakes, which contain plant-based proteins. My goal is to get to dinner without feeling too hungry. And I also drink 1,5 liters of water.
These are the Rebelbomb with almonds and dates Here's the Solar Rebelbomb Rebelbomb with quinoa, hazelnut and cocoa The Rebelbomb Orange Power
Rebelbombs with almonds and dates Here's the Solar Rebelbomb Rebelbomb with quinoa, hazelnut and cocoa The Rebelbomb Orange Power
Water bottles on the run?
Two. One with coral water and the other with a gluten-free saline supplement.
Gluten-free due to intolerance?
Of which I noticed it in 1997, the year at the Francaise des JeuxA century has passed, but I had a bad Tour because of a bad manipulation that had messed everything up for me. To get myself fixed I went to Dr. Poser, who Flavio Vanzella had introduced me to. He in the first session he fixed my vertebrae, so much so that the following weekend I won San Sebastian and the following one Zurich. Then I he proposed to cleanse my body and without analysis, which perhaps at the time were not even that quick or effective, He took away gluten and cheese for me. I started to feel good and to deflate. My bowel work was easier, I could breathe better, and I even lost weight. which doesn't hurt. I started to I brought gluten-free pasta from home and gave it to the hotel chefsAt first they looked at me like I was crazy, then Bartoli also asked to have some for himself, but I barely had any for myself. It was not foundI used to alternate between gluten-free pasta and white rice, now brown rice, which releases sugar more slowly.
A rather particular regime.
But it works. I would die to eat pizza more often., but I know it makes me sick, because of the gluten and the cheese. Even if sometimes it makes a difference, because it's right to indulge yourself a littleYou should see when I go to my parents' house. They don't feel right without steak. Yet I believe things will slowly move in this direction. Even for athletes.
