34 resting heartbeats and an HRV above 200: Van der Poel reveals his numbers and 4 keys to his recovery

Numbers help to understand why Mathieu van der Poel is able to chain seasons at the highest level in road cycling, cyclocross, and MTB. The Dutchman has made public some of the values recorded by his monitoring device, and the figures are well above the usual, even within high performance.

4 bpm and an off-the-charts HRV: Van der Poel explains his numbers and how he optimizes recovery

In a recent conversation on the Whoop podcast, one of his technology sponsors, the newly crowned world cyclocross champion spoke openly about the two parameters he monitors the most: heart rate variability (HRV) and resting heart rate.

HRV measures the variation in time between beats, usually during nighttime rest, and is used as an indicator of the state of the autonomic nervous system and the level of recovery. In his case, the value exceeds 200 milliseconds, an extraordinary figure.

Van der Poel himself explained it this way: “I have a really high HRV. I think it's a bit genetic, but physical condition is also important. It definitely makes me stronger and allows me to recover better.”

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The Dutchman acknowledges that there is a genetic basis, but insists that training and physical condition make the difference. In endurance sports, a high HRV is often associated with better load assimilation capacity and more efficient recovery between intense efforts. 

If the HRV is striking, his resting heart rate is not far behind. Van der Poel detailed that his usual average is around 38 beats per minute and that the lowest value recorded by his device has been 34 bpm. “The average is 38. The lowest I have recorded on Whoop is 34. So it’s really low.” “But it’s something that many endurance athletes have: the heart is very well trained. In general, cyclists have a pretty low heart rate.”

These figures are typical of an extremely adapted cardiovascular system, the result of years of aerobic work and accumulated training volume.

In an environment where many runners are reluctant to make their physiological parameters public, Van der Poel sees no problem with it: “I don’t mind, honestly. Of course, other people and competitors can learn a bit from it, but in my opinion, it won’t make a difference. Some athletes are very strict about this, but I’ve never had a big problem.”

Beyond the data, he also explained what routines help him maintain good recovery records:

• Avoid red meat.
• Reduce or eliminate alcohol.
• Take magnesium before sleeping to promote muscle relaxation.
• Read before bed as part of his nighttime ritual.

Small adjustments that, combined with privileged genetics and elite preparation, help explain how the Dutchman maintains such high performance peaks in very different disciplines throughout the year.