Nutrition plays a decisive role, especially in competitive sports. Balanced, varied, nutritionally sound, and sourced from organic farming, it creates the foundation for a high-performing organism.
Furthermore, an increasing number of runners, triathletes, and cyclists are discovering the benefits of a gluten-free diet in (endurance) sports.
GLUTEN-FREE AND HIGH-PERFORMING – THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOR ENDURANCE ATHLETES
Going gluten-free is more than just a trend – for people with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is essential. However, many unaffected (endurance) athletes also report positive effects when they remove gluten from their diet:
Especially in endurance sports, a low-FODMAP diet can improve training capacity and performance.
This is because sports and intense physical exertion lead to reduced blood flow to the gut and can result in increased permeability of the intestinal wall, subsequently causing inflammatory reactions. 30-50% of endurance athletes are affected by gastrointestinal complaints that resemble those of irritable bowel syndrome and often lead to a loss of performance, thereby impairing competition results. The latest studies among athletes show that a low-FODMAP diet can be helpful for supporting gut health or for managing existing gut problems.
FODMAPs are a group of short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols. If they are consumed in large quantities, they can reach the large intestine undigested. There, they bind a lot of water and are fermented by gut bacteria, which produces gas. Both can lead to unpleasant symptoms in people with sensitive bowels and irritable bowel syndrome, such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation.
The independent Monash University in Australia is known worldwide for its leading role in the research and development of the FODMAP concept.
The university operates an established program for testing the FODMAP content in food products and subsequent certification.
Medical research from Monash University has shown that a low-FODMAP diet can help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome:
\ Relieves pain and discomfort
\ Reduces diarrhea
\ Reduces bloating
\ Increases quality of life
What do FODMAPs or a low-FODMAP diet have to do with Schnitzer products, given that FODMAPs are carbohydrates and not the protein gluten?
IT IS DUE TO THE FODMAP CONTENT OF GLUTEN-FREE GRAINS.
Common baking grains such as wheat, rye, and spelt are classified by Monash University as having a high FODMAP content. In contrast, the gluten-free baking grains we use, such as rice and corn, contain significantly lower amounts of FODMAPs. Furthermore, lactose—a type of sugar that belongs to the FODMAPs—plays a major role. Almost all Schnitzer products are lactose-free.
Your partner for gluten-free sports nutrition
Schnitzer Gluten-Free
A love for high-quality nutrition is in Schnitzer's blood. Since its founding over 50 years ago, the company has been committed to producing nutritionally beneficial food.
SCHNITZER GLUTEN-FREE stands for nutritional benefits, short ingredient lists, and excellent taste in premium organic quality.
A team – consisting of three professional triathletes and one professional female triathlete – that stands for the highest sporting quality, professionalism, and ambitious competitive sports at an international level. The team's coach and founder is Jörg Scheiderbauer, owner of Racextract bikes & sportfashion and a triathlete and IRONMAN® himself.
The team was originally founded under the name racextract racing Team in 2018. At the time, the intention was to guide talented, young athletes to the national and international top tier in triathlon. With the experience of coach Scheiderbauer and the excellent training conditions at the Offenburg location, this has been achieved. Today, the five professional athletes have successfully made a name for themselves in international competition.
A significant success factor, in addition to training performance, is a well-thought-out, high-quality diet tailored to specific needs, which is why Schnitzer has been supporting the top athletes since 2021. In 2024, the two Offenburg brands RACEXTRACT and SCHNITZER GLUTENFREIHEIT decided to continue their sporting path together and intensify their cooperation. From then on, the athletes will compete under the team name racextract Schnitzer racing Team.
Passion, endurance, discipline – that is what it takes to complete a triathlon. Pushing physical and mental boundaries is what drives a triathlete. The challenge of combining three sports as effectively as possible is fascinating. A goosebump-inducing sport!
These are the elite performers:
Sport has always been one of Jörg Scheiderbauer's passions. Movement and feeling his own body are his elixir of life. Jörg began his athletic career on a mountain bike, where he won the Bike Transalp in the mixed team category three times in a row. In 2008, he discovered triathlon, and by 2010, he had already qualified for the IRONMAN® in Hawaii. "I am particularly proud of my second-place finish at the IRONMAN® in Dubai, my 3rd place at the IRONMAN® 70.3 World Championship in Nice, and my fourth-place finish at the 2019 IRONMAN® World Championship in Hawaii with my personal best time of 9:04:25," says Jörg in his pleasant and dynamic manner.
The literal translation of IRONMAN® is iron man. Through intensive training combined with sufficient rest periods, a great deal of discipline, and a balanced, enjoyable diet, Jörg fought his way back to the world elite. In 2023, Scheiderbauer won the IRONMAN® France in his age group, M45.
"It is extremely important to enjoy your sport, because fun is a prerequisite for the peak performance that participating in an IRONMAN® demands," says the team's coach.
The manufacturer of ultra-light and comfortable bicycles is based in Offenburg and is managed by the husband-and-wife team Jörg & Alexandra Scheiderbauer. In addition to his work as a sports coach, professional triathletes are equipped with bikes from RACEXTRACT.
The company distinguishes itself through its combination of craftsmanship, quality, and individual consultation.
Triathlon demands more than just physical endurance – it also requires mental strength, race tactics, and perseverance. At their core, the three sports involved—swimming, cycling, and running over long distances—are already endurance sports in their own right. But for a triathlete, that is not enough. They complete the three disciplines one after the other without a break – a little crazy, yet highly impressive and incredibly demanding. The sport requires a high volume of training, iron discipline, and calls for planning and smart race pacing.
Such a competition begins with the first discipline, swimming, followed by cycling, and ends with the run. In between, only changes of clothing and equipment take place in the so-called transition zones. Triathlons are held in various lengths, from short and sprint distances to extremely long distances – such as an IRONMAN®.
Either way – in our opinion, triathlon is an absolute supreme discipline!
The globally active "World Triathlon Corporation (WTC)," as the organizer of IRONMAN® triathlon competitions, has turned the name IRONMAN® into a brand. Competitions take place annually all over the world, where athletes demonstrate their skills and compete against one another. The company hosts around 250 events annually in over 50 countries and is the global market leader in the triathlon event market. A distinction is made between the middle-distance competition series (IRONMAN® 70.3) and the classic, full IRONMAN® distance. The name of the middle distance, IRONMAN® 70.3, is derived from the total length of the competition of 70.3 miles, which corresponds to 113 km and includes a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride, and a 21.1 km (half-marathon) run. The classic long distance consists of a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bike ride, and a 42 km (marathon) run!
The combination of these three sports makes this discipline so varied – but it also brings unique challenges. It is not important at the beginning to immediately tackle long distances or train every day. Success at the start comes more from a structured, realistic, and varied training program. The most important rule is: consistency over frequency!
To be sustainably successful, you should first establish a regular training routine. Usually, three to five sessions per week are sufficient, depending on your time, fitness level, and personal goals.
Important points for your training sessions include:
It is also important to know and keep in mind that the three sports place different demands on the body. While swimming is gentle on the joints, cycling primarily allows for extensive endurance training. Running is particularly effective, but the muscles and joints are subjected to greater stress. However, beyond practicing the three disciplines, the main challenge in triathlon lies in coordinating and transitioning between the three sports. The body must adjust from swimming to cycling and then to running in a very short time. This does not mean that you have to constantly train all disciplines in direct succession from the start. For now, it is enough to combine two disciplines on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Training by feel is also perfectly sufficient when getting started with triathlon. A power meter, for example in the form of a sports watch, is not strictly necessary. You can also gauge your intensity using the so-called "talk test."
Especially at the start of your training, sessions should take place in the easy range. Once a solid foundation has been built, more intensive sessions can be incorporated.
Recovery should also be a component of your training plan. You should treat your body to at least one full rest day per week when starting out. Sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and staying hydrated are also part of this.
In addition to training the three disciplines, it is highly recommended to perform stability exercises regularly. Exercises focusing on the core, hips and glutes, shoulder girdle, as well as feet and ankles are beneficial.
You can find further tips on training for the three disciplines below:
Schnitzer products - with taste for your performance! This is how the pros enjoy our products!
Especially delicious mixed into soy yogurt or high-protein yogurt with oats and chia seeds. It is perfect for recovery immediately after a workout.
With a patty of your choice topped with lettuce, avocado, and cucumber / tomato, the burger replenishes your energy stores in the evening for the next day.
Variation: Patty of your choice, topped with egg, avocado, cheese, and lettuce.
Slice the baked bread and spread with herb cream cheese, tomatoes, or curry spread as desired. Top with cucumber slices and a fried egg if desired! Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste!
