Posted: 06.21.2011

As cyclists wrap up their first week of the Tour of America’s Dairyland, they’re reaching in the fridge for their supreme recovery drink of choice—chocolate milk.

To rebuild muscle tissue after a strenuous workout, you need high-quality protein in your recovery routine. Chocolate milk provides the ideal ratio of carbohydrates to protein needed to replenish energy used during exercise. Research shows, athletes are able to work harder in their next workout if they drink chocolate milk instead of popular sports drinks.

Don Janczak of cycling team Velo Trocadero in Milwaukee, Wis., said it’s the protein in chocolate milk that keeps him coming back for more after his long rides.

“It’s such a good recovery drink,” Janczyk said. “It’s definitely what I use.”

This month, cyclists are hitting the road in 11 Wisconsin communities for the third annual Tour of America’s Dairyland (ToAD), a pro-am bicycle series sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB).

Back by popular demand is nature’s favorite recovery drink—chocolate milk. Low-fat chocolate milk provides the same or better benefits for athletes as a typical sports drink. It’s a powerful sports recovery beverage, providing ToAD athletes with energy, protein, calcium and seven other essential nutrients.

After his first race of the series last week, there was one thing Janczyk said he was looking forward to – the chocolate milk.

Results of a recent study showed that chocolate milk improves cycling performance more than other drinks, cutting at least six minutes, on average, off of athletes’ ride time for going the same distance. Chocolate milk also increased signals for muscle protein synthesis, which leads to the repair and rebuilding of muscle proteins, more than the other drinks.

"Tour of America's Dairyland is a healthy lifestyle event which benefits Wisconsin’s dairy farm families, cyclists of all abilities, and the entire state," said Dave Bavlnka, WMMB vice president of Advertising. "The cyclists fully embrace a healthy, active lifestyle and all of the nutritional and performance benefits that can be derived from drinking chocolate milk."

Sam Tobias of the Nova Cycling Foundation Team in Mequon, Wis., said chocolate milk is in high demand during ToAD.

“Cyclists were going through chocolate milk like crazy last year,” said Tobias, who’s racing again this year. “With the carbohydrate and protein ratio, it just makes sense as a recovery drink. And compared to the other post-exercise recovery drinks, it’s much more affordable. It’s great stuff. It tastes good. It satisfies the craving. You can’t get much better.”

The race dates for 2011 are June 16-26. Winners of each race receive a 2011 Commemorative ToAD Milk Bottle complete with chocolate milk. For more information or to register for the series, go to TourOfAmericasDairyland.com.

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