'Pure marketing' - Jumbo-Visma's bicarb use a storm in a teacup

Tiesj Benoot and Primoz Roglic lead way for Jumbo-Visma at Tirreno-Adriatico on stage 3
Tiesj Benoot and Primož Roglič lead way for Jumbo-Visma at Tirreno-Adriatico on stage 3 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

With Jumbo-Visma dominating the Classics, one word on lots of lips in Belgium this week is 'bicarb'. Could the secret behind the Dutch team's staggering spring success lie in a small heap of humble baking soda?

Probably not, as a host of riders and team bosses have poured cold water on any notion that a new marginal gain is having a revolutionary impact out on the road. 

Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.

Read more
MNSTRY
5 Reasons Why MNSTRY Is Taking Over the Sports Nutrition Market
mathieu van der poel riding at Tirreno Adriatico
'I wonder where it's going to stop' - Mathieu van der Poel weighs in on Cyclingnews tyre width test
The new Castelli gravel riders pose in their new kits
Castelli launches gravel team… but insists the riders won't race as one
Visma lease a bike new kit
Are Visma-Lease a Bike making their own kit for 2025?
2025 AIUIa Tour stage 3: race leader Tom Pidcock
A little less coffee, but a whole lot more motivation with Tom Pidcock at Q36.5, say staff, riders
Denk speaking at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's official launch back in June
'We were always limited before, now the potential is massive' – Ralph Denk on a new ceiling and choosing Red Bull over the Middle East
Latest in
Austrian Sebastian Schönberger wins elite men's division of Wörthersee Gravel Race 2024
Southern Austria region 'more than ready' to host UCI Gravel World Championships and confirms application with proposed courses
Women's classification leaders are called to the start line for the final stage of Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2023
'Knowledge is here, we just need the money' - Organisers to reform Joe Martin Stage Race as Tour of Arkansas
Stage winner Team Visma's British rider James Matthew Brennan celebrates with the yellow jersey on the podium of the first stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalonya cycling tour of Catalonya, a 178,3 km loop starting and finishing in Sant Feliu de Guixols, on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Matthew Brennan adds Limburg Classic, Tour of Romandie to program after Volta a Catalunya breakthrough
Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso sprint at finish line to win the stage 4 at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025
'We are equal' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Primož Roglič realistic after narrow defeat of closest rival Juan Ayuso
Map of women's Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025
Dwars door Vlaanderen Women 2025 Route
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 27 Lorena Wiebes of Netherlands and Team SD Worx Protime celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 8th Womens Classic BruggeDe Panne 2025 a 1527km one day race from Brugge to De Panne UCIWT on March 27 2025 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Classic Brugge-De Panne Women: Lorena Wiebes takes win number six of 2025
Latest in News
Austrian Sebastian Schönberger wins elite men's division of Wörthersee Gravel Race 2024
Southern Austria region 'more than ready' to host UCI Gravel World Championships and confirms application with proposed courses
Women's classification leaders are called to the start line for the final stage of Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2023
'Knowledge is here, we just need the money' - Organisers to reform Joe Martin Stage Race as Tour of Arkansas
Stage winner Team Visma's British rider James Matthew Brennan celebrates with the yellow jersey on the podium of the first stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalonya cycling tour of Catalonya, a 178,3 km loop starting and finishing in Sant Feliu de Guixols, on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Matthew Brennan adds Limburg Classic, Tour of Romandie to program after Volta a Catalunya breakthrough
Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso sprint at finish line to win the stage 4 at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025
'We are equal' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Primož Roglič realistic after narrow defeat of closest rival Juan Ayuso
WALLERS FRANCE JULY 06 Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates white best young jersey competes passing through a cobblestones sector during to the 109th Tour de France 2022 Stage 5 a 157km stage from Lille to WallersArenberg TDF2022 WorldTour on July 06 2022 in Wallers France Photo by Bernard Papon PoolGetty Images
'He has the engine' - Geraint Thomas has no doubts Tadej Pogačar can conquer 2025 Paris-Roubaix despite lack of experience
French rider of team Visma Lease A Bike Christophe Laporte speaks during a press conference after winning the 118th edition of the 213,9 km Paris-Tours one day cycling race, in Tours, central France on October 6, 2024. (Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP)
Christophe Laporte misses out on cobbled Classics due to cytomegalovirus