This master’s thesis examined the adequacy of nutritional intake in young professional cyclists during the competitive season. The aim of the study was to determine whether their dietary strategy during the competition period follows clinical sports nutrition guidelines. Fourteen cyclists from two continental teams were included, and 13 were retained in the final analysis. Dietary intake was assessed using three-day food diaries, meal photographs, and detailed descriptions of foods, fluids, and dietary supplements consumed. The data were analysed using the Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition, exercise energy expenditure was estimated using MET values, and resting energy expenditure was calculated with the Harris-Benedict equation. Mean three-day energy intake was 4147 ± 760 kcal/day, carbohydrate intake 9.1 ± 2.3 g/kg body mass/day, protein intake 2.3 ± 0.4 g/kg body mass/day, fat intake 22% ± 5.3% of total energy intake, and dietary fibre intake 22.7 ± 4.2 g/day. Compared with the day before the race, race-day carbohydrate intake increased significantly, whereas fat intake and dietary fibre intake decreased significantly. Mean three-day protein intake was 2.20 ± 0.47 g/kg body mass/day and was significantly higher than the lower recommended limit. Carbohydrate intake from sports foods was adequate in most cyclists and was significantly higher on race day than on the day before the race, whereas the use of dietary supplements was diverse and not fully systematic. The findings indicate that cyclists partly adapt their diet to the demands of competition; however, substantial inter-individual differences remain, highlighting the importance of individualized and periodized nutritional support.
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