RACE+ is designed for hard efforts, high carbohydrate targets, and planned caffeine strategies. It combines the carbohydrate and electrolyte formulation of RACE with 100 mg of caffeine, 100 mg of L-theanine, and 500 mg of taurine per gel.
The name RACE+ doesn’t mean it’s only for race day. It reflects the intensity of the effort, the carbohydrate target, and the deliberate use of caffeine. That makes RACE+ just as suitable for hard training sessions when you want to practise your race-day fueling strategy, including caffeine, under realistic conditions.
The subtle lemon flavor remains pleasantly restrained. The caffeine can make RACE+ taste slightly more bitter than RACE. Combined with its slightly runny texture, it’s designed to be quick and easy to take, even during high-intensity efforts.
At a glance
- 40 g carbohydrates per gel, 70 ml
- 1:0.8 glucose-type carbohydrate to fructose ratio
- Maltodextrin, fructose and highly branched cyclic dextrin
- 250 mg sodium
- Plus potassium, magnesium and calcium
- 100 mg caffeine
- 100 mg L-theanine
- 500 mg taurine
- Subtle lemon flavor
- Slightly runny texture
- 12 gels per box
Why this formulation?
Maltodextrin and fructose form the foundation of the formulation because they use different transport pathways in the gut.
Across all carbohydrate sources, RACE+ has an overall 1:0.8 glucose-type carbohydrate to fructose ratio. At high carbohydrate intakes, this ratio can help utilize both transport pathways at the same time and support greater total carbohydrate absorption.
RACE+ adds highly branched cyclic dextrin as its third carbohydrate source. As an individual ingredient, this high molecular weight carbohydrate has a lower osmolality than many simple sugars. Research has associated this with favorable gastric emptying characteristics and good tolerance during intense exercise.
Highly branched cyclic dextrin makes up around 10% of the total carbohydrates. It contributes to the overall formulation but isn’t, by itself, what determines how well the finished gel is tolerated.
Caffeine can increase alertness and concentration. Under the relevant conditions of use, it also contributes to increased endurance performance.
L-theanine is commonly paired with caffeine. Some people find the combination more balanced than caffeine alone. The evidence is more consistent in cognitive settings than for specific endurance performance effects. For that reason, it is included as part of the formulation rather than as a guarantee of any specific outcome.
Taurine complements the overall formulation. Evidence for specific endurance performance benefits is mixed and depends on the context in which it is used.
The 70 ml serving size is equally deliberate. Using less water would make the 40 g of carbohydrates more concentrated, resulting in a much thicker and stickier gel. The current volume keeps the texture light enough to take quickly, even during high-intensity efforts.
The 100 mg caffeine serving makes it easy to plan your caffeine intake. Remember to include coffee, tea, cola, pre-workout, and any other caffeine sources in your total daily intake.
If you plan to use RACE+ on race day, make sure to practise your full race-day fueling strategy, including caffeine, in training under realistic conditions. At the same time, RACE+ is equally suitable for hard training sessions whenever you deliberately want to include caffeine.
When RACE+ fits
- Hard and long races
- Hard and long training sessions
- Later stages of prolonged efforts
- Sessions where alertness and concentration become especially important
- A planned caffeine strategy in training or racing
- Early starts, provided you tolerate caffeine well
- Maximum 4 RACE+ gels per day. Not recommended for children, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women.
In the box