ABOUT ME
I’m Ainhoa Prieto, and I believe nutrition should be as individual as the person behind it — supporting not only performance, but also health, self-awareness and a more positive relationship with the body.
As my path evolved through professional sport, research and the sports nutrition industry, this perspective became even stronger. Each experience added another layer to the same belief: there is no performance without health.
Today, my approach is grounded in asking better questions, looking beyond isolated outcomes and creating strategies that make sense in real life. For me, the goal is not only to help people perform better, but to support long-term health, resilience and a more sustainable relationship with food and eating habits, their body and themselves.
My interest in nutrition began with a fascination for how the human body works: what allows us to feel, adapt, recover and perform at our best. What first started as curiosity gradually became a deeper interest in physiology, behaviour and the many factors that influence human performance.
Early in my career, working with elite athletes and high-performance environments challenged the way I understood my profession. I realised that nutrition cannot be separated from the wider context of each person’s life, training demands, sleep, emotions, environment and general life habits.
What I Have Learned
The more time I've spent in high-performance environments, the more I've realised that there are no magic formulas. Success is rarely determined by a single factor—it's the result of many small things working together over time.
I've also learned that performance is deeply personal. Every individual brings a unique combination of experiences, motivations, and circumstances, which is why I don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions.
My role isn't to find the "perfect" plan, but to help people discover what truly works for them.
For me, true performance isn't about pushing harder. It's about creating the right conditions for people to thrive.
Professional background
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working across professional cycling, football, basketball, alpine skiing, and endurance sports, supporting athletes, coaches, multidisciplinary teams, and organisations in high-performance environments.
My experience includes roles with INEOS Grenadiers, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Deportivo Alavés, Baskonia Basketball Club, Apex2100 Ski Academy, and Maurten, where I currently work as a Performance Dietitian, contributing to athlete support, education, research, and performance-focused initiatives.
I hold a BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, an MSc in Sport Nutrition from Liverpool John Moores University, and an MSc in Integrative Physiology. Together, these experiences have shaped the way I work today: combining scientific evidence with a personalised, practical approach to help people perform, feel, and live at their best.
More than a professioN
Movement has always been part of who I am—not because I see it as training, but because it's how I connect with myself and the world around me.
These days, you'll usually find me on the bike, in the gym doing Hyrox, on my yoga mat, or exploring the mountains. Each one gives me something different. Cycling reminds me of the joy of exploring and being outdoors. Strength training makes me feel strong and resilient. Yoga brings balance and helps me slow down, while time in nature gives me space to think and recharge.
I believe movement should enrich our lives, not take them over. It's not only about performance or results—it's about feeling capable, connected, and well enough to enjoy the life we want to live.
My connection with gravel cycling
Gravel cycling reminds me why I fell in love with sport in the first place. It's less about chasing numbers and more about the experience itself.
For me, gravel is about freedom, exploration, and being open to the unexpected. It's about leaving the route unplanned, embracing uncertainty, and enjoying the journey as much as the destination. Some of my favourite moments on the bike have nothing to do with performance—they come from discovering new places, sharing kilometers with good company, or simply being surrounded by nature.
Gravel has also taught me that not every journey needs to be perfectly planned. Sometimes the most meaningful experiences come from taking the road that calls you and seeing where it leads. In many ways, that's how I try to approach life too: with balance, an open mind, and a willingness to explore beyond the obvious.
My philosophy of life
To me, living well means feeling healthy enough to embrace everything life has to offer. It means having the energy to explore new places, challenge myself, spend meaningful time with the people I love, and appreciate the simple moments that often matter the most.
I don't strive for perfection, and I don't believe health should become another source of pressure. I believe in building habits that support the life you want to live—not limit it.
Outside of work, I'm inspired by time in nature, travelling to new places, meaningful conversations, and experiences that help me see the world from a different perspective. They remind me to keep learning, stay grounded, and never lose sight of what truly matters.
