Energy Gels

The perfect energy gel composition for cyclists and endurance athletes

As an endurance athlete, you know an energy gel can make the difference, but it shouldn’t be complicated. What matters is simple: enough energy per serving, the right mix of fast and slow carbohydrates and easy digestion under load.

That’s why classic isotonic gels are becoming outdated. By adding extra moisture, Neapharma gels digest easier and absorb faster, performing like an iso gel but delivering more energy.

1. Keep it simple: Energy value

You use a gel for one reason: energy. So when comparing gels, what matters is how much energy is actually in the pack. Don’t get fooled by nutrition tables per 100 g. Always look at the serving size. A 30 g gel can’t be compared to a 60 g gel by percentages alone. What counts is the energy you take in with one gel, not the math on the label.

  • How many grams of carbohydrates are in one dose? That’s the key question. Ideally, one gel delivers 30 to 40 g of carbohydrates. Less than that and you’re likely underfueling. More than 40 g often overloads the stomach, unless the gel uses three different carbohydrates to support absorption.

  • Always combine gels with isotonic drinking during cycling to support energy intake. That’s why a good energy gel contains more than 50 g of carbohydrates per 100 g: enough density to fuel performance without relying on guesswork.

  • Extra moisture in a gel improves digestion and speeds up energy absorption. At Neapharma, we’ve optimized this balance so our gels perform like an iso gel, but deliver more energy per serving.

2. The ideal ratio between fast and slow carbohydrates

Not only the amount of energy matters, the composition does too. For cyclists, it’s actually simple.

Your body absorbs fast carbohydrates first and slower ones later. The balance between them determines how steady your energy supply will be. For endurance efforts, a 2:1 ratio of fructose to glucose works best. This ratio supports multi-stage absorption, delivering strong and consistent energy throughout long efforts without sharp peaks or drops.

2:1.1 ratio of fructose to glucose: double power

Fun fact: your body can absorb about 65 g of carbohydrates per hour, which often limits endurance performance. But there’s a workaround. By combining glucose and fructose, you can absorb up to 30 percent more energy per hour. These carbs use different transport pathways, so they don’t block each other and can be absorbed at the same time. More intake, same gut, better performance.

By using gels with a 2:1.1 ratio of fructose to glucose, you push absorption even further. This slightly higher fructose share matches how the body actually transports carbohydrates during long efforts, allowing for smoother uptake, fewer energy dips and better gut tolerance. For endurance athletes, a 2:1.1 gel means more usable energy per hour without extra stomach stress.

 

The secret weapon: Multi-stage absorption

At Neapharma, we use three different carbohydrate sources in our energy gels. That allows us to combine a 2:1 ratio with multi-stage absorption for extra usable energy. Multi-stage means your body absorbs energy in phases: first the fast carbohydrates, fructose and glucose, kick in. Normally, absorption would slow down after that, but by adding maltodextrin, a long-chain carbohydrate, energy continues to be released for up to 45 minutes after intake. The result is steady fuel without an energy dip after the initial boost. For endurance athletes like cyclists, this isn’t a luxury. It’s essential to keep performance stable over long efforts.

3. Digestibility

Always choose a gel with a neutral pH. This is indeed the best proof that the gel doesn’t contain added acids or flavorings and is therefore easily digestible. This way, you don’t lose precious energy during digestion.

  • Always choose a gel with a neutral pH. It’s the clearest sign that the gel contains no added acids or aggressive flavorings, making it easy to digest. That way, your energy goes to performance, not digestion.

  • Always choose a gel with a neutral pH. It’s the clearest sign there are no added acids or aggressive flavorings, which makes the gel easier to digest and prevents wasting energy on digestion. And remember: train your gut. Just like your body can’t suddenly run 100 km, your stomach can’t instantly handle more than about 65 g of carbohydrates per hour. Practice this regularly in training to avoid issues on race day.

4.  A smart way to load carbohydrates: Pro Sport Fruit

Energy fruits often cause a rapid blood sugar spike, followed by an energy dip within 15 minutes. By using a high-quality carbohydrate source such as isomaltulose, Pro Sport Fruits avoid this effect and provide long-lasting, stable energy. They are ideal as a replacement for a Pro Energy Bar or as an addition to Pro Isotonic and Bars when building up to 140 g of carbohydrates per hour.

Thanks to the isomaltulose-based formula, you can use it as a booster to increase your carbohydrate intake or as a replacement for a bar, without an energy dip.

Pro Sport Fruit

5. Added ingredients

An energy gel should do one thing: deliver fast, easily digestible energy. Nothing more, nothing less. Yet many brands still add ingredients for marketing reasons that do nothing to improve performance or body composition.

  • Salt matters. When you sweat, you lose sodium, and if you don’t replace it, dehydration and performance loss follow. That’s why an energy gel should contain at least 0.5 g of salt per 100 g, ideally combined with an isotonic drink to keep hydration and energy intake on point.

  • Vitamin C or manganese: Vitamin C has long been used to support faster carbohydrate transport in the body. Recent research shows that manganese does this even more efficiently, improving energy uptake. That’s why the latest generation of energy gels uses manganese instead of vitamin C.

  • Caffeine: Gels with caffeine give a clear extra boost. Within about 15 minutes, you feel increased energy, alertness and focus. Because the effect fades after roughly an hour, caffeine gels are best used in the final phase of a long training or race.

Check out the Pro Boost Gel