Bicarbonate and Carbohydrate Co-Ingestion During Exercise in a Novel Gel Format Improves Time-Trial Performance After 3 h of Moderate-Intensity Exercise in Trained Cyclists.

Norte, BR ORCID: 0000-0002-0651-2010, Hickman, A ORCID: 0009-0007-8445-2854, Megias, AM ORCID: 0009-0009-5544-9247, Mosquera-Lopez, ET ORCID: 0000-0002-0505-0352, Bermon, S ORCID: 0000-0002-9529-2901, Garrandes, F ORCID: 0009-0007-7051-7020, Adami, PE ORCID: 0000-0001-5975-5342, Johnson, KO ORCID: 0000-0002-7395-5129, Mahon, E ORCID: 0000-0002-5910-0220, Shepherd, SO ORCID: 0000-0001-6292-1356, Strauss, JA ORCID: 0000-0001-7175-2494 and Louis, JB ORCID: 0000-0002-9109-0958 (2026) Bicarbonate and Carbohydrate Co-Ingestion During Exercise in a Novel Gel Format Improves Time-Trial Performance After 3 h of Moderate-Intensity Exercise in Trained Cyclists. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 36 (10). ISSN 0905-7188

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Abstract

Sodium bicarbonate (SB) ingestion may improve high-intensity exercise performance in efforts that range from 1 to 60 min; however, to date, no studies have investigated the effects of SB supplementation during exercise, nor its potential to attenuate the fatigue-induced decline in parameters of the power-duration curve during prolonged exercise (i.e., durability). This study examined the effects of bicarbonate (BI) and carbohydrate (CHO) co-ingestion via a novel gel format during exercise on subsequent sprint and time-trial (TT) performance in cyclists. Eleven trained cyclists took part in this randomized, crossover study. Following one visit to establish a non-fatigued power profile (3 × 6-s sprints, 2-min TT and 12-min TT cycling performance), participants completed two experimental trials consisting of 3 h cycling at 95% gas exchange threshold and ingested CHO at a rate of 80 g·h-1 with (CHO + BI; 18 g of SB and 2 g of potassium bicarbonate) or without BI co-ingestion (CHO). Participants repeated the same power profiling protocol after the 3 h submaximal exercise. Performance in the 12-min TT was improved in the CHO + BI condition compared with CHO (+12 W; p = 0.01, g = 1.07). Mean power output in the 6-s sprints (+12 W; p = 1.00, g = 0.18) and 2-min TT (+6 W; p = 0.888, g = 0.32) were not significantly different between CHO + BI and CHO. There were no differences in gastrointestinal symptoms between conditions. These data suggest that BI and CHO co-ingestion during prolonged exercise via a novel energy gel format improves subsequent 12-min TT performance in a fatigued state with minimal gastrointestinal discomfort.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	acid–base balance; durability; endurance; ergogenic aid; fatigue resistance; nutrition; physiological resilience; power‐duration relationship; Humans; Bicycling; Cross-Over Studies; Athletic Performance; Dietary Carbohydrates; Adult; Male; Sodium Bicarbonate; Bicarbonates; Young Adult; Gels; Oxygen Consumption; Dietary Supplements; Potassium Compounds; 42 Health Sciences; 4207 Sports Science and Exercise; Nutrition; Clinical Research; Prevention; Physical Activity; Digestive Diseases; Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities; Humans; Bicycling; Cross-Over Studies; Athletic Performance; Dietary Carbohydrates; Adult; Male; Sodium Bicarbonate; Bicarbonates; Young Adult; Gels; Oxygen Consumption; Dietary Supplements; Potassium Compounds; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; 1116 Medical Physiology; Sport Sciences; 3202 Clinical sciences; 3208 Medical physiology; 4207 Sports science and exercise
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	17 September 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	2 October 2026
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2026 15:20
Last Modified:	02 Oct 2026 15:20
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/sms.70373
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29596

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