Coconut water has emerged as a promising natural sports drinks to maintain hydration and energy during prolonged exercise as this is crucial for athletic performance, especially in heat stress. While effective for rehydration, rapid absorption of liquid coconut water may not sustain hydration during extended exercise. This study investigated the effects of coconut water-based hydrogels on exercise performance in ten healthy male participants. Experimental gels, including coconut water-based hydrogel, coconut water-based energy gel, and a water-based placebo, were prepared and characterised. Participants performed a 45-min steady-state cycling exercise followed by a 10-km time trial following ingestion of the respective gels. Physiological parameters including heart rate, oxygen uptake, and blood lactate, were monitored. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA and revealed that while blood glucose levels were initially higher in the energy gel group, they returned to baseline in all groups during exercise. RPE increased progressively during exercise across all groups, with a trend towards lower RPE values in the energy gel group. The results suggest that a coconut water-based hydrogel may enhance cycling performance compared to placebo, with faster time trial completion and a trend towards higher power output possibly due to the activation of brain reward pathways by glucose in the hydrogel. However, no significant performance differences were observed between the energy gel and other conditions, potentially due to the masking effect of maltodextrin on glucose sensing. Further research is needed to confirm these findings including investigating the effects of different carbohydrate intake timings and exploring the potential of coconut water-based hydrogels in more demanding exercise scenarios, such as high-intensity exercise lasting longer durations.