Living The High Carb Life

How Tailwind’s new High Carb Fuel helped power pro cyclist Ellen Campbell to long format success 

After finishing sixth place at the iconic Leadville 100 MTB race and then immediately jumping into the three-day Breck Epic to finish on the podium in a deep women’s pro field, Ellen Campbell knew high carbohydrate fueling was working for her.

The Tailwind athlete and pro cyclist has been racing bikes (and fueling with Tailwind) since high school, but really found her home in longer format events in 2022 when she finished her first Lifetime Grand Prix series. She loved the adventure, the self expression, and seeing just how far she could go.

But those bigger races called for a more aggressive fueling plan, and she found that—while perfect for shorter races—her go-to Tailwind Endurance Fuel didn’t quite have the carbohydrate content to get her to the recommended 90g/hour she needed to perform at a higher intensity for a longer period of time. 

After experimenting somewhat unsuccessfully with snacks like fig bars (dry mouth alert) and quadruple scoops of EF in a single bottle (an “electrolyte gut bomb”) she came to the Tailwind team and said she needed a solution. 

A few weeks later, she got to try the first iteration of what would become Tailwind High Carb.

The final product took nearly two years of meticulous ingredient hunting, experimenting and flavor trial, but the result has been well worth the wait for Campbell and endurance athletes like her. With 90 grams of carbohydrates in a single serving, along with balanced electrolyte content, this new high-carb sports drink is designed to keep athletes both fueled and hydrated for big adventures and intense efforts. Available in lemonade and ginger lime flavors, it’s easy-to-digest and easy on the stomach—so you can focus on the actual hard stuff. 

Campbell started training her gut gradually, switching it up between Endurance Fuel and High Carb and slowly going from 40g of carbohydrates/hour to 60g to where she now thrives, at 90g. And while it’s impossible to know which training factors led to her standout performances last year, she has no doubt that High Carb played a huge role in keeping her fueled, hydrated and happy—all key pieces to the performance puzzle.

“When I’m properly fueled for my rides I not only perform better, but I recover quicker, and don’t feel as depleted, which allows me to do a lot more,” she said.

On race day, Campbell has about half a serving of high carb with breakfast, and then aims to finish a bottle with a full serving of it every hour for maximum glycogen replenishment. She uses a timer on her cycling computer to remind her to drink throughout her race, because “Once you get behind, it’s really hard to catch up.”

Endurance Fuel is still Campbell’s go-to drink for base miles and less-intense training rides. But when intervals are on the table or she’s lining up for a race, it’s High Carb in her bottle. 

“With High Carb, Tailwind covers the full spectrum of an athlete’s needs without needing to supplement with other products,” she said. “I’m excited for other people to use it and experience the difference in their own training and performance.”

Key Takeaways

• High-carb fueling, or ingesting 90 grams or more of carbs an hour, can lead to major performance benefits when done right.

• Before jumping into 90 grams or more an hour, train your gut gradually to tolerate the fuel.

• When deciding when to use Tailwind High Carb versus Endurance Fuel, consider the length and intensity of the effort required.

Tailwind High Carb Drink Mix Breakdown

• 90 grams of carbohydrate and 360 calories per serving 

• Balanced electrolyte content for hydration

• Three sources of carbohydrate for maximum absorption: dextrose, maltodextrin, fructose

• Available in two flavors: Lemonade and Ginger Lime