Gravel races come with their own set of challenges: long days in the saddle, unpredictable terrain, and often limited aid station support. Whether your goal is simply to finish feeling strong or to go all-out for a PR, here’s your step-by-step guide to race day fueling.

Sweat rate is a critical piece of information for athletes, and it is actually fairly easy to figure out. But this relatively simple data point can have a major impact on your performance. Studies have shown as little as a 0.5% loss of body water can cause increased strain on the heart, and as little as 2-3% of total body weight can cause declines in performance.