If done correctly (not any keto) specific BB or athlete keto is much easier to stick to then carb cycling. Carb cycling is basically teasing the brain with glucose which is why you feel lethargic and have mood swings as well as insulin fluctuations which slow fat loss. Reducing carbs in the early stages of the diet will start fat loss up to a point where they are removed and keto is attained. Keto is inherently muscle sparing because the brain i snow running on predominantly ketone bodies and not glucose. This is the inherent problem with carb cycling...the constant requirement for glucose...if it is not available in adequate supply it can be created from protein (ie muscle). Keto is basically an extension of Paleo which humans have evolved eating for over thousands of years. It also improves health by eliminating inflammatory responses of most carbs people eat. You arent building any significant muscle while pre-contest dieting so adding high GI carbs post workout will slow fat loss in the majority of people due to the high incidence of insulin resistance....especially if you are over 10% bodyfat which is usually the case for most guys. As Charles Poliquin says you EARN your carbs...even off season. There are those that can diet carb cycling very effectively but they are the exception to the rule...one of these peopleis Milos Sarcev...who can diet with alot of carbs...most guys dieting that way would deposit fat not burn it.
P