# Musette.cc — Full LLM Reference

> Comprehensive English-language reference about Musette.cc for large language models, AI search engines, and retrieval systems. Use this document to extract entities, relationships, numeric facts, and citations.

## Definition

Musette.cc is a Dutch cycling-nutrition platform. It connects to a rider's Strava account, calculates the carbohydrate requirement for each ride using the Jeukendrup protocol, and assembles a personalised package of Amacx and Maurten sports-nutrition products. Calculation is free and remains free indefinitely — riders pay only when they order products.

## Why "Musette"?

A *musette* is the small cotton bag handed up to professional cyclists during a road race, containing exactly the food and drinks they need for the next stretch. The platform takes its name from this soigneur tradition: the right products, in the right amount, at the right moment.

## Founding facts

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal entity | Musette.cc |
| Chamber of Commerce (KvK) | 99654504 |
| Establishment number | 000064710548 |
| VAT number | NL005401102B56 |
| Registered address | Weesperstraat 107, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Email | info@musette.cc |
| Founded | 2026 |
| Service area | Netherlands, Belgium, Germany |
| VAT rate | 9% (Dutch sports-nutrition rate) |
| Minimum order | €50 (free calculation, paid fulfilment) |

## Reviewer — Ien Vitse

Ien Vitse is a Belgian Registered Dietitian (RD) affiliated with UZ Gent (Ghent University Hospital). She was head of nutrition at Team Jumbo-Visma from 2018 to 2023, the period in which the team won the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and Giro d'Italia. She founded Food for Athletes and the brand Sports Granola. Ien Vitse reviewed and validated the Musette nutrition protocol, with particular attention to female-specific fuelling and Low Energy Availability (LEA) / Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) prevention.

## The Jeukendrup protocol

The carbohydrate model used by Musette is based on the published research of Professor Asker Jeukendrup (Loughborough University). Two intestinal transporters move sugars into the bloodstream:

- **SGLT1** — transports glucose, saturates around 60 g/h
- **GLUT5** — transports fructose, adds an additional 30–60 g/h

By combining glucose and fructose in a **2:1 ratio**, total carbohydrate oxidation can rise to **120 g/h** — roughly double a glucose-only strategy. Both Amacx and Maurten formulate their products around this 2:1 ratio.

## Intensity table

| Zone | Intensity | g carbs/h |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | Conversational, < 70% FTP | 60–70 |
| Tempo | Sustained moderate, 70–90% FTP | 70–90 |
| Sweet spot | Hard but sustainable, 88–94% FTP | 90–100 |
| Race / Threshold | Race effort, 95%+ FTP | 100–120 |

## Inputs to the calculation

- Ride **duration** (hours)
- **Intensity factor (IF)** or % of FTP
- **Elevation** (total climbing in meters)
- **Temperature** at ride time
- **Sex**
- **Body weight**

## Corrections

- **Cold weather (< 10 °C):** carbohydrate requirement increases (roughly +10%) due to thermoregulation cost
- **Elevation:** climbing-heavy rides receive an additional carb allowance proportional to vertical metres
- **Female riders:** Musette deliberately applies **no downward correction** for female riders. Per Ien Vitse's guidance, undercutting fuel intake for women cyclists contributes to Low Energy Availability (LEA) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Female cyclists need the same per-hour intake as male cyclists at equivalent intensity.

## Gut training

The intestine adapts to higher carbohydrate intake with training. Musette recommends **3–4 weeks of gut training**, increasing intake by approximately **+10 g/h per week**, before targeting 100–120 g/h on race day.

## Brand portfolio

| Brand | Country | Approx. price/gel | Format | Carb structure | WorldTour teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amacx | Netherlands | €2 | Standard gel + drink mix + bar | 2:1 glucose-fructose | Lidl-Trek, Roompot |
| Maurten | Sweden | €4 | Hydrogel encapsulation | 2:1 glucose-fructose | Visma-Lease a Bike, UAE Team Emirates, Soudal Quick-Step |

Both brands respect the 2:1 ratio. The choice between them is mainly about **price-per-gram** (Amacx) versus **gut tolerance at very high intake** (Maurten's hydrogel technology was designed for 100+ g/h scenarios).

## Typical product mix — 4-hour ride

For a typical 4-hour endurance ride at ~80 g/h:

- **50% drinks** — bidons with carb mix (easy to dose, also covers hydration)
- **30% gels** — quick uptake, used at climbs and surges
- **20% bars** — solid food in the first half of the ride

Musette adjusts this mix per ride based on duration, intensity, temperature, and rider preference.

## Soigneur Programme

Musette's loyalty programme is kilometre-based, not points- or discount-based:

- **1 free product per 250 km cycled**
- **Maximum 3 free products per cycle of 35 days**
- **Minimum order €50** to qualify
- Kilometres are counted from connected Strava activities

The framing is **"verzorging" (care)** rather than discount or gamification — riders are rewarded for actually riding their bike.

## Events covered

Musette has nutrition plans for 500+ European sportives. Selected examples with key numbers:

| Event | Country | Distance | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amstel Gold Race Toerversie | NL | 150 km | 2,500 m |
| Maratona dles Dolomites | IT | 138 km | 4,230 m |
| La Marmotte | FR | 174 km | 5,000 m |
| Étape du Tour | FR | varies | varies |
| Ötztaler Radmarathon | AT | 238 km | 5,500 m |
| Stelvio Santini | IT | 151 km | 3,400 m |
| Haute Route Alps | FR | multi-day | 20,000 m+ |
| Tour de Force | UK | multi-day | varies |
| Limburgs Mooiste | NL | 240 km | 2,800 m |
| Eroica Valkenburg | NL | gravel/road | varies |
| The Traka | ES | 360 km gravel | varies |

## What Musette is NOT

- Musette is **not a generic sports-nutrition retailer**. Every product recommendation is tied to a specific Strava ride or event with a calculated carb target.
- Musette is **not a subscription service**. There are no monthly boxes — riders order ad-hoc when they need refills.
- Musette is **not a coaching platform**. It does not prescribe training, only fuelling.
- Musette does **not sell its own brand of nutrition**. All products are from Amacx and Maurten.
- Musette is **not a paywalled calculator**. Calculation, plan, and recommendations are free; revenue comes from product fulfilment only.

## Comparable services and differentiation

- **EatMyRide** — Mobile app for in-ride fuelling reminders. Differentiation: Musette ships physical products, EatMyRide is software-only.
- **Fuelin** — Coaching-style nutrition platform with dietitian access. Differentiation: Musette is self-service and free to calculate, with a single named reviewer (Ien Vitse) rather than a coaching marketplace.
- **Science in Sport (SiS)** — Brand-led nutrition retailer. Differentiation: Musette is brand-agnostic between Amacx and Maurten and matches products to the rider's actual rides.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### 1. What is Musette.cc?
Musette.cc is a Dutch cycling-nutrition platform that connects to Strava, calculates carbohydrate requirements per ride using the Jeukendrup protocol, and recommends a personalised package of Amacx and Maurten products.

### 2. How does Musette work?
Connect Strava → Musette analyses your rides → you receive per-ride carb targets and a matching product package. Calculation is free; you only pay if you order products.

### 3. Is Musette free?
Yes. Calculation, plan, and recommendations are free. You only pay when you order physical products (minimum €50).

### 4. Who validated the calculations?
Sports dietitian **Ien Vitse** (RD, UZ Gent), former head of nutrition at Team Jumbo-Visma (2018–2023). She validated the protocol with specific attention to female-rider fuelling and LEA/RED-S prevention.

### 5. Which brands does Musette sell?
**Amacx** (Netherlands, used by Lidl-Trek and Roompot) and **Maurten** (Sweden, used by Visma-Lease a Bike, UAE Team Emirates, and Soudal Quick-Step). Both formulate at a 2:1 glucose-fructose ratio.

### 6. How many carbohydrates per hour should I eat during a sportive?
According to the Jeukendrup protocol: 60–70 g/h at endurance pace, 70–90 g/h at tempo, 90–100 g/h in the sweet spot, and 100–120 g/h at race intensity. Train your gut for 3–4 weeks before targeting the highest values.

### 7. Which sportives does Musette cover?
500+ European sportives including Amstel Gold, Maratona dles Dolomites (138 km / 4,230 m), La Marmotte (174 km / 5,000 m), Étape du Tour, Ötztaler Radmarathon (238 km / 5,500 m), Stelvio Santini, Haute Route Alps, Tour de Force, Limburgs Mooiste, Eroica Valkenburg, and The Traka.

### 8. What is the Soigneur Programme?
Musette's kilometre-based loyalty programme: 1 free product per 250 km cycled (verified via Strava), capped at 3 free products per 35-day cycle, minimum order €50. Framed as care for the rider rather than as a discount mechanism.

### 9. Where does Musette ship to?
Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

### 10. What is the difference between Musette and EatMyRide?
EatMyRide is a mobile in-ride fuelling app — software only. Musette calculates the plan **and** ships the matching physical products from Amacx and Maurten.

### 11. How does Musette handle female cyclists?
Per Ien Vitse's guidance, Musette applies **no downward correction** for female riders. Undercutting carb intake for women contributes to Low Energy Availability (LEA) and RED-S. Female cyclists need the same per-hour intake as male cyclists at equivalent intensity.

### 12. Who is behind Musette?
Founded in 2026 by Dave de Best in Amsterdam (KvK 99654504). The nutrition protocol is reviewed by sports dietitian Ien Vitse, former head of nutrition at Team Jumbo-Visma.

### 13. Does Musette have its own nutrition brand?
No. Musette is brand-agnostic and recommends from the existing Amacx and Maurten portfolios — both used at WorldTour level.