Heart rate kinetics are faster in well-trained athletes at exercise onset, indicating sensitivity to training status, but whether they track performance changes due to changes in training load is unknown.Randomised, counterbalanced, cross-over.17 cyclists completed two weeks of light and two weeks of heavy training. The day after each training period heart rate was recorded during 5min cycling at 100W to determine the maximal rate of heart rate increase. Participants then performed a 5min cycle time-trial after which heart rate recovery was determined.Work during 5min cycle time-trial decreased 3.5% (P<0.04) in participants (n=8) who increased training load (completed light training then heavy training) and, although maximal rate of heart rate increase did not change (P=0.27), within-individual changes in work were correlated with changes in maximal rate of heart rate increase (r=0.87, P=0.005). Work during 5min cycle time-trial increased 6.5% (P<0.001) in 9 participants who decreased training load (completed heavy training then light training) and maximal rate of heart rate increase increased 28% (P=0.002) but the changes in maximal work were not related to changes in rate of heart rate increase (r=0.32, P=0.40). Heart rate recovery tended to track changes in 5min cycle time-trial work following increases and decreases in training load (r=0.65–0.75, P=0.03–0.08).Maximal rate of heart rate increases during cycling at 100W tracks reductions in exercise performance when training load is increased, but not performance improvements when training loads are reduced. Maximal rate of heart rate increase may be a useful adjunct to heart rate recovery for tracking changes in exercise performance.