Riders complain of stomach problems from the fourth hour. Soigneurs report that gels become too runny at 35 degrees. Team doctors want a higher carbohydrate density per portion. This feedback from UAE Team Emirates and Lidl-Trek gave rise to the C2:1PRO line from Enervit.
The foundation is the 2:1 ratio of glucose to fructose. Technically speaking: maltodextrin is hydrolyzed to glucose, fructose is added separately. The reason for the combination lies in the physiology of the intestine — glucose is absorbed via the SGLT1 transporter, fructose via GLUT5. Because both pathways run in parallel, the body can process more carbohydrates per hour than with glucose alone. In practice, this means that 90 g of carbohydrates per hour are achievable without the stomach going on strike. With glucose alone, you reach a physiological limit.
What the Line Contains
The Carbo Gel C2:1PRO is the core product: 60 ml, isotonic, no water required. Around 20 g of carbohydrates per gel. Three flavors: mango, lemon and neutral. The Isocarb C2:1PRO is the powder for the drinking bottle, 60 g of carbohydrates dissolved per portion. For those who prefer to chew: Carbo Bar C2:1PRO (salted caramel or neutral), Carbo Jelly C2:1PRO (tropical, chewable gel) and Carbo Chews C2:1PRO (chewable tablets) cover different textures and timing preferences.
In the high-carb segment, C2:1PRO directly meets Maurten (hydrogel technology) and SiS Beta Fuel (1:0.8 ratio). Like SiS, Enervit relies on genuine isotonic gels that can be taken without water — a practical advantage at high speeds.
An independent randomized cross-over RCT, published in Nutrients in 2024 (PMID 39339678), studied 26 runners and showed that supplementation with maltodextrin-fructose in a 2:1 ratio significantly lowered inflammatory markers after exercise — IL-6, CRP and cortisol were lower than in the placebo group.
Enervit produces in two of its own plants near Lake Como. This enables short iteration cycles: feedback from the peloton flows directly into production, without detours via external manufacturers.