A rest day at the Tour de France may have meant a break from competitive riding, but for the pros it did not mean a day out of the saddle.

We are repeatedly told recovery is as important, if not more so, than preparation even if it is just in the form of nutrition and a short ride.

And the Tour de France riders – or at least the 180 still in the race – were clocking the miles as they recovered from the brutal mountainous stage to La Planche des Belles Filles and geared up for the resuming of hostilities.

Belkin Pro Cycling, who have one stage win to their name already after Lars Boom’s cobbled stage five success, and will now be looking to consolidate Bauke Mollema’s overall standing, were one team to give their legs a spin.

With several Strava users in their ranks it is possible to see the routes and efforts put out by their riders too.

Steven Kruijswijk, for example, joked of it being his easiest day of The Tour so far – his hour-and-a-half on the bike seeing him cover just shy of 45 kilometres.

Kruijswijk efforts, which saw his put out an average of 146 watts – followed a moderate route with few climbs to speak of.

Team-mate Laurens ten Dam, on the other hand, extended his ride to take in a category-three ascent of the Fort de Chappelle des Buis.

The climb, a 2.7 kilometre ascent, with an average gradient of eight per cent, was taken with the cadence low – an average of 68 – and an average speed of less than 12km/h.

The Dutchman’s ride, on which he averaged 153 watts output, was rated as a 47 per cent intensity effort by Strava.

Now, the Dutch team – who are keen to make a name for themselves with their headline sponsor set to end their association at the end of the season – will hope to reap the rewards of the short, but necessary efforts in the coming days.