Ep. 68: Nutrition Coach and Influencer Kate MacLeod-Cycling Esports Performance Insights

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome cyclist, nutrition coach, and influencer Kate MacLeod. With her diverse athletic background, spanning road cycling, gravel, and esports, Kate brings invaluable insights into the evolving world of cycling esports.

Tune in as Kate shares her expertise on performance nutrition, highlighting key differences between fueling for intense cycling esports events like the Zwift Games Sprint Championship vs. endurance-focused MyWhoosh Sunday Race club races and how they compare to road racing. She discusses her unique approach to coaching elite athletes—including high-profile clients such as Hayden Pucker—and how their training and nutrition strategies differ significantly from amateur cyclists and traditional road racers.

The conversation also delves into pressing esports cycling topics, from managing athlete burnout and health concerns around weigh-ins to specialized training techniques, including low cadence–high torque sessions, weight training, and plyometrics. Additionally, Kate explores the importance of personal branding, social media influence, sponsorship strategies, and the financial pressures esports athletes face to maintain peak performance continuously.

Don’t miss this engaging discussion packed with practical advice, thought-provoking insights, and inspiring stories from one of cycling esports’ prominent voices.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• A Recent Study Shows Virtual Cyclists Don’t Meet Their Nutritional Needs [Zommunique, June 3, 2022]
• The Confusion With Exercise Addiction, Overtraining, and RED-S in Cyclists and Endurance Athletes [Zommunique, Mar. 25, 2022]
• Under-Fueling is A Man Cycling Thing Too! [Zommunique, Dec. 27, 2022]
• Female Cyclists Are At Risk of Eating Disorders and Know It! [Zommunique, Jan. 9, 2023]

Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.