The break is also about food. An assault on forbidden foods.

In 48 hours, the professional season will be definitively over. After the Veneto Classic, it will really be over.a. But for many riders and “racers” the break has already begun. And that's the real deal. The one at the end of the year, not the one you need to recharge in the middle of the season. A complete break, even in terms of nutrition.

With Erica Lombardi, dietitian of theAstana Premier Tech, Let's try to write an article, even a bit funny, about the "filthy things" athletes can eat. Which foods are prohibited, and how many?

McDonald's Attack!

Elisa Balsam He prefers lasagna, hamburgers and sushi. Martha Bastianelli It's about pizza, ice cream, and chocolate. The Russian Vlasov he throws himself into French fries, hamburgers and pizza. Matteo Sobrero instead he is more traditionalist and dives into tagliatelle. While David Martinelli They vote for pizza, burgers, and sushi. And like them, many others... 

«Those lovely stuffed sandwiches with hamburgers, sauces and bacon, but also French fries and pizza are the things that my kids want to eat most in this period "But you also have to be a little careful, for two reasons: first, because I'm taking a break, but in less than a month the retreats will start again. And second, because it's autumn and the delicious foods Mother Nature provides are heavier than those in the summer. In short, in the summer there's watermelon, in the winter there's chestnuts."

«The thing I noticed is that they don't ask for sweets much, Because, after all, they eat carbohydrates all year round. They may ask for chocolate a little more, but, after all, they do eat sweets. For example, they bring Mars with them to certain training sessions. But salami, chips and these more seasoned and tasty foods are not».

From feeding to eating

Lombardi makes a simple but substantial difference. Until a few days ago, athletes fed themselves, now they eat. The difference is the taste.

"Until a few days ago, they ate boiled potatoes. Now they eat them fried. If you think about it, a sandwich, even if it's greasy, isn't the end of the world. It also gets your body used to digesting these heavier foods, not to mention that digestion itself burns more because it's more difficult. It's called induced thermogenesis. Basically, the lighter you eat, the less you waste. If you eat more fat and protein, however, you burn more to break them down."

"But this break is important. It's especially important for your mind. A girl I follow, in the last few races, faced with yet another plate of rice and boiled potatoes, told me: 'I can't eat anymore.' The athlete – says Lombardi – must be happy. Sometimes, even during a Giro, if a rider is feeling a little down, I'm the one to say: "Listen, why don't you have a dessert tonight?" Just to say... After all, a little indulgence is good for your mood and releases endorphins. Taking a break is important, but it's also important not to destroy yourself. Nowadays you no longer see unrecognizable riders after a month's break.. In fact, there's almost the opposite problem. They're afraid of getting fat."

And this is something very different from what used to happen. But there's a reason...

«The reason is that, at least I in Astana, somehow I make them “go wrong” even during the year. I make concessions, and they're not always just deprivations. For example, pasta with pesto. It's heavy, but made a certain way with our chef, it's just as good, but less heavy. And that really makes a difference in the long run."

But watch out for the kilos

You eat and let off steam. It's no longer like it used to be. It's true that during the season, you allow yourself a little, but it's also true that you lose less weight during the break. And it's not so much the dietician or the team that imposes these limits, but modern cycling, which increasingly pushes everyone to the limit.

«As mentioned, in less than a month there are the training camps and in January we are already racing, not everyone, but for some it is like that. I say the limit should be two, three kilos maximum. Beyond that, it's hard to get them back. Given that there's no clear rule, the greatest risk doesn't come from overindulging at the table, but from white calories: snacks and alcohol. When we drink a Coca-Cola, we are eating sugars.e let's have a beer, we're eating carbs. When you're at home, you're more inclined to a "nibble": a slice of salami, a chocolate, a biscuit...".

And then, I repeat, a lot of bad luck when it comes to weight gain depends on the season. Both because the body tends to retain fat more, and because there are higher-calorie foods. When someone says, "It's autumn, I made myself a seasonal dish." So, you make a pumpkin soup, some chestnuts, and maybe finish with a persimmon or grapes, you've packed on a huge amount of calories. In the summer, with watermelon and fresh foods, it's much harder to gain weight. Skiers certainly have a greater advantage than cyclists when it comes to taking off!