Last weekend, Rory Townsend delivered the ride of his career. The Irish national champion stunned the field with a powerful breakaway and an emotional victory, describing it afterwards as “pure disbelief” and “an incredibly proud moment.”
At Amacx, we could not be prouder to see Rory achieve this milestone. His commitment, resilience, and preparation reflect everything we stand for: pushing past limits with the right fuel at the right time.
Every race is different. Every stage demands its own fueling approach. This win was no exception. The team knew Townsend would need to push himself for hours, so they took their proven approach and adapted it to give him the most optimal nutrition for the strategy and the conditions of the day.
A High-Carb Strategy from the Gun
According to Adam Pluciński, head nutritionist at Q36.5 Pro Cycling, Townsend’s plan was clear: maintain a very high intake of carbohydrates from the very first kilometre.
“Rory’s plan was quite simple,” Adam explained. “From the start he had to hit 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour. His power output was huge, which meant his energy needs were too. Throughout the day, he fueled with Amacx Turbo Line.”
That high intake ensured Townsend could sustain the long, punishing efforts required to be part of the decisive breakaway.
Planning for the Breakaway
This wasn’t a day for sitting in the bunch and saving energy. The team had already anticipated that Townsend would try to get up the road.
“I received the information from Jens [the team’s DS] the day before that Rory would go for the breakaway,” Adam said. “So we prepared by loading glycogen ahead of the race. That’s what makes modern cycling nutrition so dynamic. It’s all about adapting to the specifics of the day.”
In contrast, on days expected to finish in a bunch sprint, riders might start with as little as 60 g/h in the early hours, only increasing to 90 g/h later. With Townsend’s aggressive role, the plan shifted to maximum fueling from the start, powered by Amacx Turbo Line.
The Key Moments: Drinks and Gels
With warm weather in the forecast, hydration was just as important as carbs. Townsend alternated between bottles of Turbo Drink, each delivering 40 g of carbohydrates, and additional water bottles to stay cool.
To prepare for the hardest moments of the race, the team also scheduled strategic caffeine boosts. “He took caffeine gels at kilometre 60, 120, and 160 to support the high-intensity climbing on the Waseberg,” Adam shared. Those perfectly timed doses helped sharpen focus and sustain power deep into the race.
Adaptability on the Road
While Townsend’s breakaway was planned, Adam underlines that nutrition strategy always needs to be flexible.
“If a rider stays in the peloton, the fueling looks very different,” he said. “But if they find themselves in an attacking group, they must immediately switch to very high fueling with Turbo Line. That’s why we always keep both Energy Line and Turbo Line products ready in the cars, plus the On-the-Go sachets for quick bottle prep.”
This readiness allowed Townsend to adapt seamlessly to the demands of the race and keep his tank full all the way to the finish line.
Emotions at the Finish
After hours of relentless effort, Townsend had enough left in the legs to finish it off. The emotions overflowed as he crossed the line with the victory secured.
“It’s crazy,” Townsend said afterwards. “It’s just pure disbelief, as you could see on my face when I crossed the line. I’m still in shock. Winning a World Tour race, any race in my national colours, is great. Doing this myself now is just amazing.”
Summary
Townsend’s victory was the perfect combination of preparation, tactics, and precise fueling. By hitting 120 g of carbohydrates per hour and timing his hydration and caffeine intake with discipline, he was able to sustain the brutal demands of a breakaway and turn them into a career-defining triumph.
The lesson applies beyond the pro peloton. Every endurance athlete, whether competing for victory or training for their own personal goals, should adapt their fueling strategy to the effort ahead and the conditions of the day. Matching nutrition to the demands of the day ahead is what allows you to push further, perform stronger, and enjoy the moments that matter most.
At Amacx, we are honoured to support Rory and Q36.5 Pro Cycling with the tools they need to perform at the highest level. Seeing our fueling strategy play a role in such a historic win only strengthens our belief in what’s possible when science meets determination.
