Sometimes called 'train-low, race-high', carbohydrate periodisation aims to stimulate fat-oxidation adaptations on low-carb easy days while ensuring full glycogen availability for key sessions and races. It requires a structured training plan and careful nutrition timing; done poorly, it slides into RED-S. Louise Burke's research at the AIS has been central to the modern framework. Dan Lorang (Head of Performance, Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) explained on the Roadman Cycling Podcast how he implements it with his athletes: high-carb days align with threshold and VO2max sessions, low-carb days sit under easy endurance rides, and race week is always fully fuelled. The practical guardrail is total daily energy — never drop below 40 kcal/kg FFM even on low-carb days.
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