As specialist endurance athletes,theresting heart rate(RHR)of a Tour de Francecyclistisvery low.According toBicyclings 2022 analysis of elite riders performance, women onteamCanyon//SRAM Racing recordedRHRsranging from around 35 to 60 beats per minute (bpm), with some riders even lower. A 2022 sleep studyconducted at the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, followed a group of riders before, during and after the race, tracking metrics includingRHRand recovery.The researchers found riders averagedanRHRof around 45.8bpm before the race. That elevatedslightly during competition particularlyafterharder stages as fatiguebegan to takeitstoll.Similar numbers across the sport Mathieu van der Poel has an average resting heart rate of 38bpm, according to Whoop. Dario Belingheri / Getty Images Public data from across the sport shows similar numbers.On the mens side, according to a 2026 report shared via his sponsor, Whoop, Mathieu van der Poel has an averageRHRof around 38bpm, with a recorded low of 34bpm. The lowest ever recorded RHR in cycling is claimed to be MiguelIndurin, who sat at 28bpm.Few sources in cycling share up-to-date figures, but similar numbers can be found across other endurance sports.In a 2008 interview withThe Guardian, British marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe who went on to win the New York Marathon that year said: I take my pulse every morning.Itsusually 38 to 40 beats per minute, placing her in the same range asanelitecyclist.Variations in RHR between riders can be explained by among other factors genetics, bodysizeand training history.As illustrated in the aforementioned 2022 study,RHRcan fluctuate from day to day depending on factors such as fatigue,illnessand dehydration.Thatswhy teams tend to track trends over time, rather than focusing on a singledailynumber.RHRcan be a helpful indicator formonitoringperformance across a three-week race. RisingRHR, like that seen during the Tour de France Femmes study, can be a sign of accumulating fatigue, prompting adjustmentstorecovery strategies or even race tactics.How do you compare?According to theBritish Heart Foundation, a normalRHRfor adults is usually between 60 and 100 bpm, although it varies depending on age,fitnessand health.That puts even the upper end of the range for pro cyclists well below the typicalRHRfor the general population. The lowest figures are far below what most people will ever see.