March 5, 2003 – Today's questions are answered by Canada's Michael Barry and his USPS teammate from Colombia, Victor Huga Pena.

Question 1: Hi Victor,

With the increased popularity of professional cycling in the U.S., do you hear any interest within the riders or teams about riding more at North American events?

Jerry Kelly (Birmingham, AL)

Victor Hugo Pena responds:

Hi Jerry,

I think guys would like to go over to America and race but they don't often have the opportunity. Whenever friends of mine have gone over to America to race they have always come home happy with the race saying the organization was good, the countryside nice, and the hotels good. Europeans think cycling is only in Europe and when they go to America it is like a new discovery as they realize how much support the racing has and how hard it is.

Victor Hugo Pena

Question 2: Hi Michael,

First of all I am a longtime fan of yours! Are pros concerned with their weight during stage races? It seems that since you are burning so many calories you could get away with eating anything! Also – is it still taboo to eat ice cream during the season?

Jeff Hansen (Toronto, ON)

Michael Barry responds:

Hi Jeff,

During the races we tend to eat a lot of high carbohydrate foods and proteins and also eat quality foods. After the races we'll eat a potato with olive oil and salt, or a tuna or ham sandwich, or a bowl of cereal. During the races we are eating Clif Bars and Gels and drinking All Sport Energy drink. Before the races we have a straight up breakfast of eggs, cereal, bread and coffee and in the evening rice or pasta and some kind of meat. Most of the food we consume is low fat and clean burning-not hard to digest. We tend to stay away from most desserts while we are racing. After the meal we'll have a yogurt.

We gauge the amount we eat based on how long and hard each race will be. Cyclists do watch what they eat as it's a power-to-weight sport where the lighter you are the faster you'll go uphill. I think most cyclists are concerned with being lean, but you're right in that there is no need to be obsessed as we are riding are bikes for several hours a day, every day. We need the fuel to go hard and far as well.

I don't think you'll see us eating mass amounts of ice cream very often but there is some great ice cream in Spain and you'll see us having a scoop or two in the summer months when it is hot and we're training hard.

Take care and thanks for the support,

Michael

Pedal is offering an exciting Q & A with Barry througout this race. Once again readers can pose questions to Barry – and his USPS teammates when possible – and we'll do our best get the answers up the next day, along with results of each stage. Please send questions to pedal@passport.ca and cc mattsh@hotmail.com.