How much carbohydrate long events demand
For continuous events lasting longer than about two hours, sports nutrition guidance commonly points to carbohydrate intake in the range of roughly 60 to 90 grams per hour to sustain blood glucose and spare limited glycogen stores. The upper end of that range generally requires a mix of glucose and fructose rather than glucose alone.
The reason is absorption: glucose and fructose use partly separate intestinal transport pathways, so combining them allows the gut to absorb more total carbohydrate per hour than a single-source drink would permit.
Why tolerance and practice set the real ceiling
Hitting high intake rates is limited less by available product than by gastrointestinal tolerance, so athletes practice race fueling in training to adapt the gut and avoid distress on event day. Hydration and electrolyte needs are managed alongside carbohydrate, and overdrinking plain water carries its own risk of low blood sodium.
Individual needs vary with body size, intensity, and the sport. This is general educational information about endurance fueling, not personalized nutrition or medical advice.