‘It’s played a key role’ – the fishy reason why Lidl-Trek have been winning so much this season

What do Mads Pedersen and an otter have in common? Surprisingly, a few things actually: they both call Denmark home, have slicked-back hair, and, as of the past year, they both rely on salmon for performance.

You see, the diet of a pro cyclist and a marine mammal isn’t so different. The way they consume it is, though. While otters hunt and eat salmon fresh from the river, Lidl-Trek’s squad has been taking a hydrolyzed version of the fish – broken down by a chemical reaction with water – in the form of recovery drink tablets.