Winning is all about having the ‘edge’, according to Nigel Mitchell, Head of Nutrition at Team Sky, who has been working with Manchester-based sports nutrition specialist CNP Professional, developing diets and products designed to fuel the team’s success.

Sports nutrition plays a key role in giving the team that edge. Recently the cyclists have been benefitting from a new strategy - using a wide range of CNP products, including protein supplements, to get the best out of their bodies.

Mitchell explains: “In the past, cycling nutrition focused on energy. But when you exercise, there are changes in the body: muscle is broken and has to be rebuilt.

"The body uses protein to repair muscle and while a normal diet can supply enough protein for most cyclists, supplementation with a high-quality protein can give athletes an advantage.

"These supplements may help protect the muscles from long-term injury and help the cyclist recover more quickly, train harder, and thus improve performance.”

The CNP products used by Team Sky include protein supplements and bars, as well as new energy gels which have been specially developed for cycling.

The protein supplements are formulated to build, protect and repair lean muscle without bulking up the cyclists’ bodies. “We've been amazed at how well the products have transferred to cycling,” says Mitchell. “For example, several riders have said that Pro Flapjack is the best protein bar they've ever had."

Two of Mitchell’s favourite protein supplements are Pro Recover, a post-race recovery shake, and Pro MR, a meal replacement shake which he describes enthusiastically as “five products in one.”

The new Pro Max Energy Gels have been equally successful: "The critical issue was to get the boost and then maintain it, rather than have the follow-up 'energy flat' that can sometimes happen with energy products,

“The guys at CNP, especially Kerry Kayes and Philip Connolly, invested a lot of time and expertise in getting the formula just so. This has been a really successful piece of partnership work for everyone."

Mitchell has no doubt that the emphasis on sports nutrition is getting results. “CNP products are key to our performance strategies,”

"The thing we like about the guys there is that they're really, really focussed on quality and innovation. That attitude is vital when you need every last ounce of performance out of the team. Getting the right sports nutrition will give us an edge."

CNP products are available in the high street and from independent cycling retailers. You can also order online from www.cnpprofessional.co.uk or call +44 (0) 161 368 0942 for sports nutrition advice and +44 (0) 161 368 3850 for sales.