srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
The article is taking about discarded gel wrappers.Some of us struggle to digest proper food on long rides, and gels do work if you're starting to bonk. I rarely use them but usually keep a couple for emergencies.
I suspect the gels in Richmond Park were dislodged by some of the bumps.
As a fast young thing you won't have realised, but a couple of years ago the nasty little incline up out of Kingston town centre was absolutely awash with the things, to the extent that it almost felt unsafe to ride.