Like many have commented, protein with carbs to start the day has also worked for me on long rides. Regular rides start with oatmeal and brown sugar. But for a long ride, I also have lowfat cottage cheese. It is packed with protein, a little bit of fat for staying power and the carbs from the oatmeal give me energy.

Also, I get grossed out with too many gels and stuff. I eat dried fruit like dates and pineapple (nutrition label will tell you the carbs) sometimes throw in some salty almonds into the mix. This way a gel pack mid morning and another in the afternoon.

The small protein packed sandwhich after several hours helps too.

Az Fiddle, good luck with El Tour. You'll have a blast! By the way, despite all of the great aid station snacks and water, I took a small peanut butter sandwhich to have around mile 60, glad I did. The fresh fruit was great but that protein hit the spot.