How a Cyclist’s Secret Became Walmsley’s Winning Formula

In the world of ultrarunning, few races loom as large—or as elusive—as the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). It’s the Super Bowl of the sport, a grueling 171-kilometer loop through the Alps with nearly 10,000 meters of elevation gain. For Jim Walmsley, one of the most gifted and driven ultrarunners of his generation, UTMB represented both a summit and a struggle. After multiple attempts at winning the race, each ending short of the top step, he found himself at a crossroads: something had to change. In a surprising twist, the breakthrough didn’t come through more miles or more climbing. It came through research. And ultimately, it came through a product most ultrarunners at the time had never heard of: Neversecond.

A Different Kind of Training

In 2022, while watching the Tour de France, Walmsley noticed something. Multiple WorldT our cycling teams—known for their meticulous attention to performance details—were using a relatively new brand of fueling products: Neversecond. Unlike many sports nutrition brands, Neversecond took a scientifically rigorous approach to fueling—precise formulations, exact carbohydrate content, standardized sodium levels, and a modular fueling system that allowed athletes to dial in their intake down to the gram.

For Walmsley, this sparked curiosity. Despite being a world-class athlete, he had long struggled with fueling in 100-mile races. “In road ultras like Western States, I could get away with some mistakes,” he would later say. “But at UTMB, if your nutrition isn’t perfect, the mountains will find you out.” Rather than immediately reaching out to Neversecond, Walmsley took matters into his own hands. He quietly ordered the products himself — C30 Energy Gels, C30 Drink Mix, and C90 High Carb Drink — using his own money. Over the next six months, he tested everything during training runs in the Alps and the rugged terrain surrounding his home in Arêches, France. “I wanted to see if the science held up in the real world,” Walmsley explained. “I didn’t want hype. I wanted results.”

Cracking the UTMB Code

By 2023, Walmsley’s experiment with Neversecond was no longer a secret. He had fully integrated Neversecond products into his training and race-day fueling strategy. Unlike previous years — where GI distress, bonking, or hydration issues had derailed his UTMB ambitions — 2023 saw a new Walmsley: precise, prepared, and unshakeable.

He adopted Neversecond’s evidence-based fueling protocol, aiming for 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour—a level few ultrarunners had historically reached, let alone sustained. With Neversecond’s C30 and C90 products, he could hit these numbers without gut issues or guesswork. Each gel was exactly 30 grams of carbohydrate. Each bottle of drink mix was precisely formulated. No variability. No surprises.“UTMB is long enough that the small mistakes add up,” Walmsley said. “I realized I needed something I could rely on every hour, for 20 hours. Neversecond gave me that.”

In the 2023 edition of UTMB, Walmsley executed a masterclass in pacing and fueling. There were no dramatic surges, no nutrition blow-ups. He moved through the course with quiet intensity, consuming gels and drink mix on a near-clockwork schedule. As other competitors faltered in the final third, Walmsley surged ahead—finally seizing the win that had eluded him for years. He became the first American man to ever win UTMB.

Why Neversecond Worked

Neversecond’s appeal to Walmsley wasn’t just about product quality—it was about philosophy. The brand, co-founded by performance scientist Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, is built on transparency, modularity, and scientific rigor. For an athlete like Walmsley, who thrives on self-experimentation and attention to detail, this approach was a perfect match.

Some key features that won him over:

Precise Carbohydrate Content: Each C30 product delivers exactly 30 grams of carbohydrate—no more, no less. This consistency makes it easy to plan and execute a fueling strategy hour by hour.
Optimized Sodium Levels: Every C30 Energy Gel contains 200mg of sodium, supporting hydration and reducing the need for extra supplements.
Stomach-Friendly Formulations: The gels and drink mixes are pH-balanced and designed to be easy on the gut —c ritical for ultrarunners pushing their systems to the limit.
Flavor Options: With both flavored and flavor-neutral options (plus caffeine and non-caffeine variants), Walmsley could keep his palate engaged over 20+ hours of effort.

Perhaps most importantly, Neversecond provided clarity. There was no guesswork about how much fuel he was taking in, or whether he needed extra sodium, or how to scale his intake during hot or cold conditions. Everything was planned. Everything was tested.

A Lasting Partnership

Following his historic win at UTMB, Walmsley officially partnered with Neversecond. But make no mistake—this wasn’t a typical sponsorship deal. Walmsley didn’t find Neversecond through an agent or a sales pitch. He found it through science, curiosity, and a relentless desire to improve. “Jim’s journey to Neversecond is unlike any athlete story we’ve seen,” said Neversecond CEO Bill Armstrong. “He sought us out, tested our products rigorously on his own, and didn’t reach out until he was fully convinced. That tells you everything you need to know about him — and about us.” Since joining Neversecond, Walmsley has continued to innovate with the brand. He provides feedback on flavor development, endurance fueling strategies, and testing protocols. He’s not just a face for the company — he’s a collaborator.

Looking Ahead

With UTMB now conquered, Walmsley’s ambitions remain sky-high. Whether it’s setting new records on European trails or returning to Western States with renewed fire, one thing is clear: his fueling will not be left to chance. He continues to use a combination of C30 Energy Gels, C30 Sports Drink, and C90 High Carb Drink Mix in both training and racing, regularly hitting 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour—a rate once thought impossible for ultrarunners. Thanks to Neversecond, it’s now standard within trail running.

“I learned the hard way that you can’t just wing nutrition,” Walmsley said. “Neversecond helped me turn my fueling into a strength — not a liability.”

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