Jente Michels knows what it takes to win in Belgium, and his proven Stamox Protocol. Two European titles. A career built on repeated high-intensity efforts in mud, sand, and now gravel.
Two European titles. A career built on repeated high-intensity efforts in mud, sand, and gravel. Jente Michels knows what it takes to win.
His next challenge: the European Gravel Championships on 30 August – a ~4-hour race.
Here's the exact Stamox protocol he's using.
The Jente Michels Stamox Protocol at a glance
| Phase | Dates | Stamox |
| Loading | 21–28 Aug | 2 tbsp/day (20g) |
| Race eve | 29 Aug | 2 tbsp (20g) |
| Race day | 30 Aug | 3 tbsp (30g), 2.5–3h before start |
No in-race top-up. No mouthwash.
Why Loading Matters
Jente has loaded before major championships. His proven approach: 2 tbsp/day for ~10 days.
The science supports it. Research shows a loading phase of 3–7 days is enough to saturate plasma nitrite stores and prime the oral bacteria that convert nitrate to nitrite. A longer loading window like Jente's is still effective and – as his results show – clearly works.
The goal: raise baseline nitrate availability so the acute pre-race dose has the strongest possible effect.
The goal: raise baseline nitrate availability so the acute pre-race dose has the strongest possible effect.
Why 2.5–3 Hours Before the Start?
Because dietary nitrate is not instant.
Your body converts nitrate → nitrite → nitric oxide through bacteria on the tongue. This takes time.
Plasma nitrite peaks at ~2.5–3 hours after ingestion and stays elevated for 6+ hours.
Take it at the start line and you miss the peak. Take it too early and you waste the window.
For a 4-hour race, the 2.5–3h pre-race dose covers Jente from the gun to the finish — no mid-race top-up needed.
What Jente Says
"Stamox provided a significant boost to my power and VO2 max that helped me become U23 European Champion."
"I'm using Stamox now for over a year and can't describe how much it changed my cycling performance. I use it almost every day — from rest days to crazy trainings. When I'm peaking towards a really important race, I load with 2 servings a day for almost 10 days."
That same structure is now pointed at the European Gravel Championships.
The Science Behind the Protocol
- Reduced oxygen cost: Dietary nitrate lowers the O₂ required for submaximal work. Same watts, less energy. Settled science.
- Preserved muscle oxygenation in heat: Nitrate protects muscle oxygen saturation when heat diverts blood to the skin.
- Repeatable power: For a 4-hour gravel race with constant surges, nitrate helps maintain high-intensity performance late.
- Recovery between efforts: Less inflammatory stress and faster return of muscle function.
The Takeaway
If you're targeting a key race, do what Jente does:
Load 2 tbsp/day for 7–10 days → 2 tbsp race eve → 3 tbsp pre-race 2.5–3h out.
Let the protocol do the work.
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