I'd think it'd be strictly your preference for taste. Though maltodextrin likely won't get to a sickeningly sweet taste and aftertaste, but you might need some of the other sugar tastes and mouth feel to make the maltodextrin palatable.
If you are going hard and long in the heat, and relying only on bottles, then be sure to include some electrolytes too. Sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium. Usually as chlorides. Too much quantity of them is not helpful though IMO, you'll also need to find your own amount needed. For me it changes with the heat as well as length and effort of the ride.
I'm only putting 120 to 180 Calories in my 25 fl oz (739 ml) bottles which are empty in 50 minutes. Sometimes I can tolerate up to 250 Calories in them.
Amateur competitors and Pro's I'd assume can tolerate much more.
Last edited by Iride01; 02-15-22 at 03:28 PM.