The most popular energy bar at the Tour de France, according to the woman who sees the riders stuff their pockets every day

The are a variety of energy bars available to the riders looking for "free fuel."

And there are energy gels of different varieties.

We saw a lot of riders stop by and grab a variety of bars and gels before each stage. This is the New Zealander Tom Scully on the EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale team grabbing a chocolate-nut protein bar.

The Belgian Guillaume Van Keirsbulck and the Dutchman Marco Mianaard loaded up with some free fuel before the start.

According to the PowerBar rep working the station, the most popular energy bar at this Tour de France is the chocolate-nut protein bar.

In second place, she said, was the vegan cacao-crunch cereal bar.

Also third most poplar, she added, were the cola gel shots, which she called "candies."

The Australian Heinrich Haussler swooped up some gel shots.

We tried the popular chocolate-nut protein bar, which was tasty enough and chewed and digested remarkably easily — almost creamily — which is something the riders must appreciate. They spend a hundred miles a day in the saddle for three weeks and need to keep their energy stores topped up all the time without hassle.