6D Ultra Gel

How the Ultra Gel by 6d Sports Nutrition supports your objectives

⚡ 45g of carbohydrates per gel — the highest-dose format in the 6d range Each Ultra Gel delivers 45g of carbohydrates in a single 70ml portion, making it the most carbohydrate-dense gel in the 6d lineup. For ultra-endurance athletes who need to reach 90 to 120g of carbohydrates per hour, the Ultra Gel dramatically reduces the number of individual products that need to be carried and consumed, simplifying logistics during long events.

🔬 1:1 glucose/fructose ratio for maximum absorption at high intake rates At carbohydrate intake rates above 90g per hour, standard 2:1 ratio products cannot deliver enough fructose to keep pace with glucose absorption saturation. The Ultra Gel's 1:1 ratio provides significantly more fructose per gram of carbohydrate, unlocking the full capacity of the GLUT5 fructose transporter and allowing total carbohydrate absorption to reach up to 120g per hour when combined with 2:1 ratio Sports Series products. This is the science behind elite-level fuelling strategies.

📐 The Ultra Unit system: precision fuelling for ultra-distance athletes Each Ultra Gel represents 1 Ultra Unit (45g carbohydrates at a 1:1 ratio). This standardised measurement integrates with the 6d Sports Unit system to give ultra-endurance athletes a precise, modular framework for building hourly carbohydrate strategies at any target level: 2 Ultra Units = 90g/hour, 2 Ultra Units + 1 Sports Unit = 120g/hour. No approximation, no calculation errors mid-race.

🧂 200mg sodium per gel — standalone fuel capable Like the Sports Gel, the Ultra Gel contains 200mg of sodium per portion, supporting fluid retention and electrolyte balance when used without a sports drink. For ultra-distance athletes carrying soft flasks of plain water, the built-in sodium content provides meaningful hydration support alongside carbohydrate delivery.

☕ Optional caffeine stimulus with the cherry-blackcurrant variant The cherry-blackcurrant variant delivers 75mg of caffeine per gel. For ultra-distance athletes facing 6, 8 or 12-hour events, strategic caffeine use in the later stages of a race is one of the most evidence-based performance interventions available. The 75mg dose sits well within the ergogenic range and can be deployed precisely when mental and physical fatigue begin to accumulate.

🎯 Goal guide

🏋️ Ultra-endurance performance: 1 to 2 gels/hour for efforts of 3 hours or more.

🔥 Long-distance training: 1 gel/hour during sessions over 3 hours. Combine with Sports Series for lower-intensity segments.

⚖️ Gut training: Use progressively to train the gut to absorb higher carbohydrate rates before race day.

Serving suggestion

Consume 1 to 2 Ultra Gels per hour during exercise lasting 3 hours or more. Each gel provides 1 Ultra Unit (45g of carbohydrates). The larger 70ml format has a slightly more liquid consistency than standard gels, making it easy to consume in one or two squeezes. Always follow with 150 to 200ml of plain water to support digestion and absorption. For maximum carbohydrate absorption at high intake rates, combine with 6d Sports Series products using the combination strategies below.

Cherry-blackcurrant variant (caffeine): due to the 75mg caffeine content, limit to a maximum of 2 gels per day. Avoid in the hours before sleep. Not recommended for individuals sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women or adolescents.

Best times to enjoy it

🏁 From 45 to 60 minutes into effort Begin fuelling before glycogen depletion. For ultra-distance efforts, starting carbohydrate intake early and maintaining consistent delivery is more effective than attempting to catch up after depletion sets in.

⏱️ Every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the session At a target of 90g of carbohydrates per hour (2 Ultra Units), space intake evenly: one Ultra Gel every 30 minutes. At 120g/hour (2 Ultra Units + 1 Sports Unit), alternate between Ultra Gels and Sports Series products every 20 minutes.

☕ Cherry-blackcurrant variant: strategically in the second half of a long event Time caffeine intake to peak during the most demanding portion of the race. For a 6-hour effort, deploying the cherry-blackcurrant variant from hour 3 onward — when fatigue compounds — delivers the most impactful ergogenic benefit.

🔁 Combined with Sports Series products for flexible hourly targets The Ultra Gel is designed to work alongside the Sports Series. Mix and match Ultra Units and Sports Units to reach precisely the carbohydrate target that matches your training, gut tolerance and race objectives.

Hourly carbohydrate target — Ultra Series combination strategies

Goal-specific guidance

For ultra-endurance performance: The Ultra Gel is specifically designed for efforts lasting 3 hours or more where carbohydrate intake targets of 90 to 120g per hour are both necessary and achievable with adequate gut training. Introduce the Ultra Gel gradually in long training sessions before deploying it at target race intake rates. Gut training — progressively increasing carbohydrate intake over weeks of practice — is essential to avoid gastrointestinal distress at the higher end of the intake range.

For gut training: The Ultra Gel is an excellent tool for progressive gut training sessions. Start at 60g of carbohydrates per hour (combining Sports Series and Ultra Series products) and increase by 15 to 20g per hour every 2 to 3 weeks. The goal is to condition the intestinal transporters and gut motility to handle higher intake rates comfortably before race day.

🏅 Sport Nutrition "Did you know?"

The concept of consuming 120g of carbohydrates per hour during exercise was considered physiologically impossible less than 15 years ago. The scientific consensus was that the gut simply could not absorb more than 60 to 70g of glucose per hour. The discovery that fructose uses a completely separate intestinal transporter (GLUT5) — and that training the gut progressively increases the density and efficiency of both transporters — changed everything. Today, elite ultra-cyclists and Ironman triathletes routinely target 100 to 120g per hour, and the 1:1 glucose/fructose ratio of the Ultra Gel is specifically engineered to make those intake rates physiologically possible.

Full ingredient list

Water, maltodextrine, fructose, sodium citrate, natural flavouring, acidity regulator: citric acid, preservatives: potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate.

Cherry-blackcurrant variant (additional ingredient): caffeine 75mg per gel.

Key ingredient breakdown

Allergens and certifications

Allergens: No major allergens. Gluten-free confirmed. Always refer to the product label for the most current allergen information.

Certifications and characteristics:

• Informed Sport certified (batch-tested for 250+ prohibited substances)
• Gluten-free
• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Lactose-free
• No artificial flavourings

Nutritional values per gel

Cherry-blackcurrant variant — additional active ingredient:

Comparison: Ultra Gel vs Sports Gel

Q1 — What is the difference between the Ultra Gel and the Sports Gel? The Sports Gel (45ml, 30g carbs, 2:1 ratio) is designed for efforts up to 3 hours and carbohydrate targets up to 90g per hour. The Ultra Gel (70ml, 45g carbs, 1:1 ratio) is designed for efforts of 3 hours or more and targets of 90 to 120g per hour. The higher fructose proportion in the Ultra Gel's 1:1 ratio is essential at very high intake rates, where more fructose is needed to keep pace with glucose transporter saturation. For shorter sessions or lower carbohydrate targets, the Sports Gel remains the more appropriate choice.

Q2 — Do I need to do gut training before using the Ultra Gel at high intake rates? Yes, and this cannot be overstated. Consuming 90 to 120g of carbohydrates per hour is a skill that requires progressive intestinal adaptation over weeks or months of practice. Attempting race-level intake rates without prior gut training is one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal distress in endurance racing. Start at 60g per hour, increase by 15 to 20g every 2 to 3 weeks, and always test your full race-day nutrition strategy in long training sessions before competition.

Q3 — Why does the Ultra Gel use a 1:1 ratio instead of the 2:1 ratio used in the Sports Series? At carbohydrate intake rates above 90g per hour, the glucose transporter (SGLT1) becomes saturated at approximately 60 to 70g of glucose per hour. Any additional glucose beyond this ceiling simply cannot be absorbed and will remain in the gut, causing bloating and discomfort. Fructose uses a completely separate transporter (GLUT5) that is not affected by glucose saturation. By increasing the fructose proportion to a 1:1 ratio, the Ultra Gel provides more fructose to exploit this separate pathway and push total absorption toward the 120g per hour ceiling when combined with Sports Series products.

Q4 — Can I use the Ultra Gel for shorter efforts under 3 hours? The Ultra Gel can technically be used for shorter efforts, but it is not the optimal choice. For sessions under 3 hours and carbohydrate targets under 90g per hour, the Sports Gel (2:1 ratio) is the more appropriate format. The higher fructose content of the Ultra Gel provides the most benefit specifically at high intake rates that exceed what the Sports Series can efficiently deliver alone.

Q5 — How should I combine the Ultra Gel with Sports Series products to reach 120g of carbohydrates per hour? The most effective 120g per hour strategy combines 2 Ultra Units with 1 Sports Unit: for example, 1 Ultra Drink + 1 Ultra Gel + 1 Sports Gel, or 2 Ultra Gels + 1 Sports Drink. This results in a combined glucose-to-fructose ratio of approximately 1:0.8, which research indicates is close to the optimal ratio for maximum absorption at very high carbohydrate intake rates. Always pair with adequate plain water intake and ensure this strategy has been tested and tolerated in training before race day.