Nils Brun

Is bicarbonate the gamechanger for long races, too?

Last year, I took .nutrition BICARB only before races but the effect seemed to last only for the first part of the races.
Then a friend hooked me up with the MNSTRY BICARB GEL 40 (which was basically impossible to get at the time ). Dankä Lars🤝
Against my own rule of "never try anything new on race day," I risked it and took the first time bicarb gels during the world champs. 😅

The result: One of my best days on the bike and an 18th-place finish. I could go deep all day as the sodium bicarbonated successfully neutralised H+-ions which are produced during those high-intensity efforts.

Science 🎩:

Acid buildup limits performance. Bicarbonate buffering can improve power output by up to 6%.

Most bicarbonate breaks down in the stomach and causes discomfort. MNSTRY’s capsule bypasses this, enabling absorption in the small intestine.

With the BICARB GEL 40, it combines extracellular buffering of H+-ions with fast carbohydrates to help sustain performance.

My protocol:
* Before: ~0.2–0.3 g/kg body weight in capsules
* During: 1–2 × BICARB GEL 40 (5g of bicarbonate each) in the later stages to reload

This is pretty much in line with what’s recommended for longer events (>90 min), where topping up can help maintain performance deeper into the race.

The plan I used at World Champs is the same I used yesterday. 🔥🔥

What a fun day . Great mix of gravel roads, single trails and vineyard paths, but damn those climbs were steep.
P.11 finish, another solid result!
swiss



nutrition




📸.grava_

Sipping on my .nutrition is much more than just great taste. 🥤

MNSTRY is truly performance-driven. Their wide product range delivers results without compromising long-term health. All Natural and microbiome-friendly.

My favorite products: Porridge Bar blueberry, Chew 40 and Gel 40 Mango. Uhh and my new favourite product will be on the market soon😋

Having their nutritionists available for support and catching up with the team in Girona has been invaluable. Being supported on race day by people who care makes all the difference.

Beyond happy to be working with the team this year. Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing some insights into my nutrition strategies over the coming time

📸 .grava_

Part 3/3: Unveiling my 2026 partners

🇮🇹📸Super happy to announce my partnership with . Based in Bergamo and 100% Made in Italy frames, ultimate aero gravel machines. With massive tire clearance and high-speed aerodynamics, the gravel bikes are built for no-compromise performance.

: Another italian🇮🇹 brand on board. Fast and comfy helmets and glasses which are fitting perfectly to my bikes.

Let's get it started! 1 week to the first race💥🤩

📸