During long endurance efforts, carbohydrate nutrition is the limiting factor that athletes master the least. The Pyrène Blueberry Gel concentrates 53g of carbohydrates per 100g of product — Maltodextrin/Fructose ratio 1:0.8 — with 200g of organic Pyrenean blueberry purée and organic sea salt. This guide covers the precise dosage, dilution, and integration of an endurance carbohydrate gel over several hours.
Composition: Organic Pyrenean blueberry and sea salt
The blueberries come from a family farm cultivated organically, facing the Pic du Midi d'Ossau. Each 630g bottle contains 200g of fruit purée. Upon opening, it's real fruit — not a reconstituted flavor.
Blueberries are naturally rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins, pigments with documented antioxidant properties. During prolonged effort, oxidative stress accumulates through the production of free radicals linked to repeated muscle contraction. An intake of antioxidants during exercise helps limit this mechanism and maintain performance over time — this is one of the arguments behind the integration of fruit purée into the formula, beyond its taste.
How to calculate the gel dose before starting
Two parameters to cross-reference: duration of effort and intensity. They determine the quantity of gel in grams to pour into the container (soft flask or bottle). The gel is then filled with water to the top — the gel/water ratio varies according to the desired concentration and the capacity of the container.
For a dose calculated automatically in a few seconds based on duration, intensity, and gender: Pyrène dose calculator.
Field rule for in-race management: at half the effort time, the bottle or flask must be half consumed. Finish the content in the last 15 minutes. If several containers are used (two bottles, flask + bottle), the total dose can be freely distributed among them; what matters is the total carbohydrate intake over the duration, with regular consumption.
Pyrène Protocol for long efforts: managing 3 hours and more
The Maltodextrin/Fructose ratio of 1:0.8 utilizes two distinct intestinal transporters (SGLT1 for glucose, GLUT5 for fructose), allowing for an exogenous oxidation of approximately 1.4g/min — versus 1.0g/min for a single carbohydrate. Over a 4-hour effort at 90g/h, the difference represents approximately 60g of additional carbohydrates oxidized, equivalent to a partial glycogen reserve recovered en route.
The form of the supplement — diluted fluid or concentrated gel — does not impact absorption at high carbohydrate intake rates. Studies comparing ingestion in liquid, gel, and confectionery forms show equivalent oxidation rates at 90-120g/h. This equivalence is the basis of the Pyrène protocol: complete freedom regarding the format, provided the target carbohydrate intake rate is maintained.
During very long efforts (greater than 5 hours), taste tolerance decreases. The Blueberry Gel provides a break from monotony compared to an entirely neutral support — which encourages maintaining regular intake. Compliance with the nutritional protocol over time is as crucial as the composition of the gel itself.
Combining Blueberry Gel and DrinkMix over several hours
During long efforts, the combination of DrinkMix + Blueberry Gel is a common strategy. DrinkMix provides the continuous neutral carbohydrate base in large flasks; the Blueberry Gel acts as a taste break on a segment, in a separate flask or directly consumed.
Fundamental rule: if both products are used simultaneously, reduce each dose proportionally to avoid exceeding the hourly carbohydrate target. DrinkMix and Gel share the same 1:0.8 ratio — the same intestinal transporters. Alternating the two forms without disturbing absorption is possible, provided the total is managed.
On segments without available water (technical climbs, spaced aid stations), the Blueberry Gel can still be used without dilution. DrinkMix requires water — having Gel in parallel as a fallback solution is not redundancy, it's logistical assurance.
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Key takeaways Pyrène Blueberry Gel contains 53g of carbohydrates/100g (1:0.8 ratio). The dose is calculated based on duration × intensity × gender — read the label or use the calculator. |
References
Jeukendrup, A. E., Moseley, L., Mainwaring, G. I., Samuels, S., Perry, S., & Mann, C. H. (2006). Exogenous carbohydrate oxidation during ultraendurance exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 100(4), 1134–1141. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00981.2004
Rowlands, D. S., Thorburn, M. S., Thorp, R. M., Broadbent, S., & Shi, X. (2008). Effect of graded fructose coingestion with maltodextrin on exogenous 14C-fructose and 13C-glucose oxidation efficiency and high-intensity cycling performance. Journal of Applied Physiology, 104(6), 1709–1719. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00878.2007
Baur, D. A., Toney, H. R., Spicer, M. T., & Bassett, D. R. (2022). Carbohydrate type and rate of oxidation during exercise: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 32(4), 285–294. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0304
Costa, R. J. S., Snipe, R. M. J., Kitic, C. M., & Gibson, P. R. (2017). Systematic review: exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome—implications for health and intestinal disease. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 46(3), 246–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14157
