Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates XRG are utilizing a new Enervit C2:1PRO Lactate Gel Mix during the Tour de France, testing a sports nutrition product that introduces exogenous lactate.
How Exogenous Lactate Works in Endurance Cycling
Cyclists consume up to 120g of carbohydrates per hour at the Tour, yet nutritionists continually seek ways to maximize energy absorption without overloading the digestive tract. According to Enervit, traditional glucose intake hits a ceiling at roughly 60g per hour because the intestine relies on a single transporter limited in capacity. Adding fructose introduces a separate intestinal transporter, raising carbohydrate absorption to 90g per hour when blended in a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio.
The new Enervit gel adds 10g of lactate to that equation. Research led by Professor George A. Brooks at the University of California demonstrated that the human body continuously produces and utilizes lactate as a natural energy source for the heart, brain, and muscles during exercise. By consuming lactate directly, athletes bypass the metabolic step of breaking down carbohydrates to produce it. According to Enervit, exogenous lactate is absorbed through its own transport mechanism independently of glucose and fructose pathways, potentially raising an athlete’s carbohydrate ceiling while reducing acidity and lowering the perceived effort of hard physical exertion.
Team Strategies and Competing Lactate Formulations
While Pogačar’s squad relies on the Enervit formulation, other teams in the professional peloton have tested alternative products. Aitor Viribay, a former physiologist at Netcompany-Ineos, developed a similar product called ExoLactate, which is currently used by another team. Development on the Enervit gel involved testing throughout the 2024 and 2025 cycling seasons, positioning the product for a commercial release following La Vuelta España in September.
Did you know?
Lactate was long considered the enemy of cyclists, blamed for the burning sensation in our legs and a loss of power, but it is really a fuel source for muscles.
Despite adoption by elite riders, industry experts question the immediate performance gains of ingesting external lactate. Styrkr, a sports nutrition company, highlighted a 2024 study demonstrating a 4% increase in watts and lower perceived effort at identical power outputs following lactate consumption. However, a separate 2025 study confirmed that the human body utilizes exogenous lactate, yet “stopped short of demonstrating a performance breakthrough,” according to Styrkr’s analysis. The research suggests ingested lactate behaves primarily as a mild acid-base buffer similar to sodium bicarbonate loading, shifting blood chemistry and reducing perceived effort without consistently making athletes faster.
Skepticism also exists within team performance departments. Olav Bu, head of performance for Uno-X Mobility, told Cyclist that his team remains unconvinced by ingested lactate because it yields less energy than glucose relative to its energy cost and increases the complexity of gut absorption. Bu noted that Uno-X research has not yet identified a definitive hard ceiling for exogenous carbohydrate oxidation, meaning traditional fuels remain more efficient until proven otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Enervit C2:1PRO Lactate Gel Mix?
It is a sports nutrition gel developed over several years with Professor George A. Brooks that combines 90g of carbohydrates (in a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio) with 10g of exogenous lactate to provide additional energy during endurance exercise.
How does ingested lactate differ from normal carbohydrate gels?
While glucose and fructose rely on specific intestinal transporters, exogenous lactate is absorbed through an independent pathway. This allows cyclists to introduce an additional energy source without overloading standard carbohydrate absorption channels.
When will lactate gels be available for purchase?
According to Enervit, the C2:1PRO Lactate Gel Mix is slated for public release following La Vuelta España in September.
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