Svensson has energy gels for every type of performance

Tested on wielerverhaal.com

Energy gels have become an indispensable part of modern cycling. They are easily digestible, easy to take with you and above all a direct supplier of energy for every level of cyclist, from tourists to competitive cyclists. We were provided with the Endurance Energy Gel, Booster Energy Gel and Final Energy Gel by Svensson and tested them in competition. This resulted in an unexpected anecdote.

Final Energy Gel

The first gel that passes the revue is the Final, which should be taken in the final of your competition or effort, as the name suggests. The Final is available in 'spicy coffee' flavour - which suited us very well as notorious coffee lovers. The gel is easy to open with the mouth - always handy during the race - and is very fluid, which is a definite plus. Some other gels are more syrupy and therefore difficult to take in. If the gels are difficult to take, they can also be used optimally by mixing them in a drinking bottle with 450ml of water, which gives you an isotonic sports drink with the endurance gel. A 46g gel contains 75mg of caffeine, and this is immediately noticeable after taking it. Within 10 minutes of taking it, we noticed an increased increase in concentration, and the painful legs were a thing of the past for a while. In addition to caffeine, the Final also contains black pepper, which stimulates the nervous system and reduces fatigue, and 30g of carbohydrates, which makes this gel an ideal form of energy supply in the final in combination with a thirst quencher. TIP: Do NOT use this gel towards the evening. We thought it was a good idea to test this gel during an evening criterium. However, that turned out to be a very bad plan. This gel is certainly a stimulant for athletic performance, but there are better ways to get to sleep. Sleeping was a challenge - something that is usually not a problem after a race - and the 3 o'clock clock was easily exceeded.

Booster Energy Gel

The Booster can be seen as a combination of the Final and the Endurance Energy Gel. It also contains caffeine, but less than the Final – 35 mg in a 45g serving, compared to 75 mg for the Final. The Endurance is intended for a slow release of energy, which makes this gel more focused on the endurance of the athlete. The presence of caffeine and guarana means that the gel also provides a boost in terms of concentration and a reduction of fatigue, which makes you feel fresher.  Because the Booster contains 30g of carbohydrates, this is the perfect gel to take during exercise. The big difference is that when taking the Final, there is a risk of getting the well-known dip when the caffeine has worn off, which athletes often complain about when taking a high dose of caffeine during a competition. Because the Booster only contains half the caffeine, there will be a noticeable difference in concentration and the prevention of fatigue, but there will be no characteristic dip when the caffeine has worn off. The Booster is available in the flavours red fruit, mint and natural tea.

Endurance Energy Gel

Last but not least: the Endurance Energy Gel, a gel that, as the name suggests, is mainly focused on the long-term release of energy and is therefore perfectly suited for endurance sports. This gel does not contain caffeine, guarana or the like, but it does contain citrates and electrolytes.These ensure that the athlete suffers as little as possible from fluid loss during exercise because they retain fluid. The Endurance comes in 4 flavours: lime, banana, cappuccino and cola – the latter being our personal recommendation.

Curious about our energy bars? Then be sure to check out this blog.