David Zabriskie Going Vegan For The Tour De France
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Elite cyclist consulted triathlete Brendan Brazier for guidance as he aims to compete in the Tour de France on a mostly vegan diet.
To climb the Tour de France’s steep mountain passes and cross its scorching plains, cyclists have tried stuffing themselves full of steak and pasta, gulping down wine and cognac, smoking cigarettes, taking amphetamines and, of course, using other drugs during the race’s 107-year history. On Saturday, American David Zabriskie plans to try something entirely new: Riding the Tour on a vegan diet.
Experts say he is the first cyclist to attempt the most difficult bike race in the world sans meat, dairy or eggs. (He will cheat slightly, he says, because he plans to eat small amounts of salmon two days per week to increase iron absorption).
Cyclists in the Tour de France can burn 8,000 calories a day—so many that some riders, already lean from their training, are unable to eat enough food to keep up with calorie loss
To get guidance on the diet, Zabriskie consulted with Brendan Brazier, a triathlete and author of “The Thrive Diet,” a guide to vegan diets in sports that has become something of a bible for the cyclist. Brazier lives near Zabriskie in the outskirts of Los Angeles and began joining him on rides.
Read more: The Wall Street Journal