Why are some pro cyclists using nicotine?

September 16, 2025

Professional cyclists are among the fittest, most health-conscious athletes in the world. Tobacco and nicotine, two of the most addictive legal substances, are more commonly associated with cancer warnings and long-term health risks than elite performance. So you’d be forgiven for thinking the pro peloton would be the last place you’d find them. However, the reality is that both are surprisingly common among professional athletes, and cyclists are no different.

We aren’t talking cigarettes or smoking like was common for riders in the early years of the Tour de France, but rather snus and nicotine pouches placed discreetly under the lip. You may have noticed the small, round, tubs they come in behind shop counters near cigarettes and other tobacco products. (The terms snus and nicotine pouches aren’t strictly synonymous, as outlined below.)

Both products, once largely a Scandinavian curiosity, are now a growing concern around the world. Discreet, smokeless, and delivering a fast hit of nicotine straight into the bloodstream through the gum, they offer a quick fix of the highly addictive drug.

And they have a surprising following among athletes. Reports suggest their use in football is widespread, and while anecdotal evidence suggests cyclists don’t seem to use them at the same rate, if around the pro cycling scene long enough and you are likely to come across them at some point. Escape Collective