A BRITISH woman was found dead with her boyfriend in a Thai hotel room after taking a lethal cocktail of drugs.

Rebecca Turner’s mum is now pleading with partiers after the 36-year-old and partner Sam Melnick died in Bangkok earlier this year.

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Rebecca Turner died after taking a cocktail of drugs in Thailand[/caption]

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The 36-year-old is believed to have thought she was taking cocaine[/caption]

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Mum Anita Turner with daughter Rebecca[/caption]

Mum Anita Turner, 64, from Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, said her daughter thought she was taking cocaine while travelling on March 15.

But, instead the powder turned out to be a cocktail of nine different substances including painkillers, sleeping pills and anxiety medications.

Anita has been left heartbroken by the tragedy.

She said: “Every morning I wake up and see a picture of her and just cry and cry. It’s killing me. The pain of losing a child is indescribable. You can’t imagine such pain until it happens to you.

“There is a massive drug problem out there and you just don’t know what you’re getting or how strong it is. You need to be really careful. It’s really not worth the risk.”

Rebecca was due to return back to the UK in April.

She had been to a friend’s wedding in Laos before she and Sam, a self-employed gas-engineer and plumber, checked into the Khaosan Palace Hotel in Bangkok on March 15.

CCTV showed Sam entering the hotel half an hour before Rebecca that day.

He text a pal saying he had just bought cocaine, Anita said.

Instead, he brought back to the hotel room a cocktail of opiates, morphine, codeine, noscapine, benzodiazepine, temazepam, lorazepam, diazepam and monoacetylmorphine.

Rebecca and Sam are thought to have died around 1pm with their bodies discovered by friends who went looking for them.

Anita said: “So many people are dying and people need to know about this.

“That road [where Rebecca was staying] is particularly bad — a boy died of the same thing just a day before.

“I just want to tap people on the shoulders and tell them: just please don’t take anything.”

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Rebecca had been at a wedding in Laos[/caption]

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Rebecca was an experienced traveller in South East Asia[/caption]

Anita was sent an autopsy report from Thailand but she said parts were censored.

She said: “The Thai authorities were useless and unhelpful.

“They said I could have all her stuff back in three months but it took over six.

“They don’t want people to know how bad the problem is out there.”

Rebecca’s travel insurance covered the cost of bringing her body home ahead of a funeral on May 10.

She had a Buddhist memorial in September, and money was raised for a school where she volunteered, in Thailand.

A UK inquest into Rebecca’s death is expected to be heard in January.

Rebecca’s death came months before six young backpackers died just hours after drinking free vodka shots in party hub Laos.

But the booze was laced with methanol, poisoning the drinkers.

Eight employees at the Nana Backpacker hostel in Vang Vieng were taken into custody on Monday after workers reportedly refused to call an ambulance for dying guests.

It is not yet known how these drinks could have been spiked but some locals revealed how a factory error could have led to the disaster, The Sun previously reported.

Anonymous sources said Tiger Vodka, which sells for 36p per bottle, was made on a site owned by the Laotian communist government, according to the Sun Herald.

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Bangkok city skyline[/caption]

AFTER causing some controversy over the years, a beloved energy drink is being put back on shelves.

Its hallowed return, expected sometime in early 2025, has triple the caffeine content it once did nearly 40 years ago.

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An energy drink that was previously discontinued is coming back next year (stock image)[/caption]

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Redcon1 will release a new version of Jolt Cola[/caption]

Redcon1, a rapidly growing sports supplement brand, reached a deal earlier this year with licensing agency IMG to re-introduce none other than Jolt Cola to customers, per an October press release.

The partnership was created to help “merge JOLT’s legendary brand recognition with Redcon1’s modern, high-energy lifestyle image.”

Redcon1 said it hoped to appeal to “a new generation of customers” and offer some nostalgia for longtime fans of Jolt Cola, in a “best of both worlds” decision.

Jolt Cola is legendary in the energy drink space and known by many to be the first ever in the 1980s.

It came decades before Celsius, Monster, and Red Bull.

At the time, Jolt Cola offered customers just over twice the caffeine of a normal can of Pepsi or Coca-Cola, which typically has about 34mg in a 12-ounce can.

A Jolt Cola in the 1980s had around 72 milligrams, which made a lot of American parents keep their kids from having it.

Now, it’s keeping up with energy drinks caffeine content nowadays — typically anywhere from 150mg to 350mg on the high end.

The maximum end of the safe range for caffeine consumption in a day for most healthy adults is 400mg, per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

TASTE PROMISE

The brand-new Jolt Cola’s will have 200mg, so right in the sweet spot, similar to Celsius and even other prominent supplement brands like C4.

Jolt Cola’s new cans will also be bigger, up to 16 ounces from 12, and will include some different ingredients, like nootropics for focus, B vitamins, and a metabolism booster that’s non-stimulant, per Food Dive.

Redcon1 also spent over 18 months perfecting the taste of the cola energy drink to avoid being flat or generic, along with maintaining its zero-sugar promise.

“We think of it kind of like a Coke Zero,” Aaron Singerman, founder of Redcon1, told the publication.

“People are going to drink it and go ‘Wow, this tastes great,’ and they’re not even thinking about the energy factor.”

This product holds a special place in the hearts of many, and we are committed to preserving its original essence while enhancing it for today’s customers.

Aaron SingermanFounder of Redcon1

Along with two undisclosed flavor profiles in the 16-ounce cans, Redcon1 also noted in the release that it plans to offer Jolt Cola in “ready-to-drink pre-workout” and “energy shot” options.

BANKRUPTCY WOES

The return of Jolt Cola is significant, as the future was grim for the beverage for some time.

Its founder filed for bankruptcy in 2009 after competition from other increasingly popular drinks and an expensive canning contract.

In 2017, it briefly returned but didn’t distribute widely enough.

Redcon1 says its version is the answer.

“Jolt Cola is more than just a product; it’s a piece of history,” Nick Manzo, senior director of licensing at IMG, noted in the release.

“We’re thrilled to have brought Jolt and Redcon1 together to reintroduce this iconic product and celebrate its legacy both with loyal fans and a new generation eager to experience the bold energy of Jolt.”

Those curious about what energy drinks do to the body can find more information about what’s happening minute by minute here.

Competitors like Red Bull have also recently made major updates to its green can, sparking backlash from some customers.

KANSAS City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had strong comments concerning Patrick Mahomes’ backup quarterback.

Mahomes suffered a mild high-ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns.

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Chiefs offensive linemen help up Patrick Mahomes, who got injured after a hit during the team’s 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday[/caption]

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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the Week 15 contest[/caption]

Fortunately for Kansas City, the three-time Super Bowl MVP Mahomes participated fully in practice on Tuesday, indicating that he can play against the Houston Texans on Saturday.

However, if Mahomes is unable to play in the Week 16 game, Andy Reid believes the 13-1 Chiefs can be successful if Carson Wentz makes the start.

“We have full confidence in Carson,” the head coach said, per ESPN. “If he has to step in and play, then I think everybody, coaches and players, has full confidence that he can go in and do a nice job.

“He’s started in the league and been successful. He’s got a great feel for this offense.

“Very smart, big arm. I like the way he carries himself. I like everything about him.

“He should be starting in this league somewhere, so he’s a heck of a player.”

Wentz replaced Mahomes in the fourth quarter of the contest against the Browns.

The former first-round pick is in his first season with the Chiefs and made all two of his completions in the road game for 20 yards.

Mahomes’ high ankle sprain injury is a similar one he suffered in a 2022 divisional-round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 29-year-old revealed that his current injury isn’t as severe as the previous one.

And Mahomes still returned to the playoff game and played in both the AFC Championship Game against the Super Bowl during that playoff run.

Reid also told reporters that the team won’t factor the short turnaround from Saturday’s game to their Christmas game against the Pittsburgh Steelers into their plans with Mahomes.

“If he can go, he’ll go,” the 66-year-old said. “If he can’t, then he can’t. It’s that simple. That’s how we’ll roll. I’ll just take it day by day and see how he does.”

Kansas City clinched the AFC West and a playoff spot but is eyeing the No. 1 seed, which has a first-round postseason bye and home-field advantage attached to it.

They can clinch the top AFC spot with two victories in their last three games.

“I wouldn’t say it’s dire that I play,” Mahomes said on Tuesday. “It’s not in the AFC Championship Game where we’re playing to get to the Super Bowl.

“We have a little bit of room to kind of spare, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to win.

“We’re trying to win the football game and I’m a competitor.

“I want to go out there and play, so I’ll push myself to get to the best place possible over these next few days and we’ll be able to make a decision then.”

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Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz filled in for the injured Mahomes in the fourth quarter[/caption]

THREE weeks, 21 stages, 3,320 kilometres, 176 riders and a staggering 18 million combined calories burned.

That’s what it’ll take to complete next year’s Tour de France, one of the most gruelling editions of the world’s most famous cycling races in recent memory.

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Tadej Pogacar celebrates winning Stage 15 of this year’s Tour[/caption]

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The 2025 Tour de France is one of the most brutal in recent history[/caption]

Kicking off in Lille, next year’s route features six summit finishes, two time trials and a triumphant return to Paris for the lightning fast finish along the Champs-Élysées.

Easy, huh?

With riders expending around 5,000 calories per stage, fuelling and recovering is no mean feat.

So just what do they eat to maintain energy levels and explosiveness? SunSport spoke to Victor Campenaerts, winner of Stage 18 of this year’s Tour, to find out.

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Victor Campenaerts celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win stage 18 of the 2024 Tour de France[/caption]

BREAKFAST

Carbs, carbs, carbs.

Every single rider in Le Tour will have their own individual nutrition plan, with team nutritionists weighing every single ounce of food to ensure the correct amount of carbohydrates are consumed.

Victor – who will join Visma-Lease a Bike for the 2025 season – tells SunSport that around three hours before the stage, he will have a “massive” portion of porridge, alongside 50 grams of agave syrup, dried fruit and some banana.

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Porridge is Victor’s go-to breakfast during Le Tour[/caption]

He relies on oat milk, almond milk or rice milk, avoiding lactose because it has a heavy impact on the stomach.

A strong coffee accompanies almost every rider’s breakfast, and as one of the only legal performance-boosting aids, it has been shown to boost both endurance efforts while acting as a quick pick-me-up too.

Victor’s meticulously planned food regime then focuses on the pre-race prep.

He said: “Two hours before the race, and then one hour before the race, these are two more moments that I have a small bite, and that’s always energy chews.”

@precisionfandh

Victor makes sure to have one of these chews in the build-up to each stage[/caption]

These chews, a sports nutrition product, taste “just like a nice candy” in Victor’s eyes, and each contains around 30g of carbohydrates.

Now it’s time for the fun to begin.

MID-RACE

Carbs are the main fuel you burn when exercising, and failing to fuel properly can have a catastrophic effect for a one-day event, let alone over three weeks.

At kilometre zero – the official ‘start’ of the day’s racing, Victor has his first energy gel of the day.

@precisionfandh

Victor had four of these gels during his stage win[/caption]

He needs around 140-150g of carbs EVERY HOUR to maintain optimal performance, and riders hit this target through a mix of Precision Fuel and Hydration‘s sports drinks, isotonic sports drinks, energy gels and energy chews.

When Victor won Stage 18 of this year’s Tour, here’s what he consumed: 

• 2.7 litres of carbohydrate and electrolyte drink mix
• 1 litre of carbohydrate only drink mix
• 4x energy gels, each containing 30g of carbs
• 2x caffeine gels
• 3x energy chews
• 500ml plain water

In recent years, the peloton has moved away from the more traditional energy bars, bananas and other real foods, because riders often struggle to chew and swallow solids when racing.

POST-RACE

Recovery begins the second Victor crosses the finish line.

Nearly every rider will be given some form of recovering shake when crossing the finish line, followed by some plain rice on the team bus.

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Victor Campenaerts breaks down in tears after winning Stage 18 of the 2024 Tour de France[/caption]

Chicken and rice tends to be one of the go-to meals for the various teams at Le Tour, with an easy-to-eat mix of carbs and proteins. 

Some of the riders may choose to add tomato ketchup, as it’s sugar-heavy and a very easy way to get some extra carbs in.

But every last drop of ketchup will be measured to fit in with each rider’s nutrition plan.

After a quick shower and a massage, Victor will jump on the phone to the team nutritionist and tell him what he consumed during the stage and what he had straight after the race.

@precisionfandh

Victor, at 5’8″, needs a much smaller dinner than some of his taller team-mates[/caption]

Typically, he burns around four to five thousand calories during each stage – though this can fluctuate depending on the length and intensity of the day’s racing.

Victor is able to consume a lot in the race, so doesn’t always need to overindulge with his evening meal.

He is 5′8″, and weighs just 68kg according to ProCyclingStats, with sprinters often weighing considerably more and general classification riders a little under this figure.

He explained: “I don’t have to eat massive, massive amounts at dinner. If my girlfriend sees what I’m eating, she’s always surprised by how much I eat.

“Some riders might be taller and heavier than me, so compared to them I eat about half of what they eat.”

Evening meals are designed with the next day’s stage in mind – with carb-heavy dinners ahead of a mountain stage and a nutrient-rich, lower calorie menu ahead of a sprint stage.

During the 2022 Tour, options on Team EF Education-EasyPost’s menu ahead of both flat and mountainous days included:

FLAT STAGE

• Starter – Cured meats
• Leek, onion and carrot soup
• Roasted vegetables 
• Paprika sweet potatoes or Spanish paprika rice
• Mexican spiced trout

MOUNTAIN STAGE

• Starter – Salmon and beetroot salad
• Carrot and coriander soup
• Cucumber, lime and tomato salsa salad
• Penne arrabiata or Spanish paprika rice
• Paprika and oregano chicken
• Roasted vegetable ratatouille
• Fruit crumble

If the riders are lucky enough to have a rest day the following day, team chefs are tasked with creating their own ‘cheat meal’.

Dinners might include burgers, tacos and lasagnes – but using lower-fat recipes unlike the ones the rest of us might have as a celebratory dinner.

Victor couldn’t quite remember what he had after winning Stage 18, but said: “It’s quite obvious when I won that stage in the Tour de France that night I didn’t bring the scales to dinner!

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Many riders need a dessert as a simple morale boost, with a crème brûlée being Victor’s favourite[/caption]

“We had a glass of champagne, I think I had two glasses of champagne, not more than that.

“Also, you’re very tired so you’re not really looking to get really drunk because there’s still two more stages to come after this.”

Dessert is on the menu every night, with a creme brulee one of Victor’s personal favourites, even if he sometimes opts against having a sweet treat.

“If the chef makes a crème brûlée, the dietitian knows exactly what’s in there.

“She knows one portion is, let’s say 400 calories, and some riders need to be able to have dessert just for their mental health.”

Some of the other dessert options on EF Education’s menu, meanwhile, included flapjacks, banana bread, beetroot brownies.

These revamped menus are worlds away from the endless pasta of years gone by, yet it’s still nothing compared to the wild innovations you might see in a fancy Mayfair restaurants.

Owen Blandy, head performance chef at EF Education, told the BBC: “You need to swallow your chef ego and put it into a dessert or play around at the end of a race. 

“Go wild then but don’t mess with the simple stuff: the carbohydrates and proteins. Give the guys what they want and they will be happy.

“I’ve cooked risottos before and they’ve just asked for plain basmati rice. 

“They aren’t there on a holiday. They don’t care about fancy food. They are literally there to fuel.”

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