Arthur Blanc has taken the Strava best time on Alpe d'Huez, covering the famous ascent in 35'38'' on 19 June and briefly setting a new benchmark on one of cycling's most iconic climbs.
The 28-year-old French amateur, who rides for Prizm Racing, improved on the previous reference times held on the climb and did so at an average of 20 km/h while producing 334 watts. The effort adds another notable amateur performance to a mountain that continues to attract attention well beyond the professional peloton.
A climb with Tour de France significance
The comparison is especially meaningful because the Tour de France will pass over the same ascent. Alpe d'Huez is 12 km long at 8,8% and includes 21 bends, making it one of the sport's most recognizable climbs and a natural measuring stick for riders at every level.
Before Blanc's ride was published, Jack Burke held the previous best at 35'56'', with Sepp Kuss also having posted 36'05''. Blanc's time now sits at the top of that short list and, for the moment, reflects the depth of amateur cycling as much as it does the prestige of the climb itself.
How Blanc got it done
The achievement did not come on the first try. After a first failed attempt, Blanc returned the following evening and completed the record climb. That persistence fits the broader story around Prizm Racing, a team created this year in Drôme, and the idea behind the effort: to test a highly trained amateur against one of the most mythic ascents in the sport.
Maël Coiquaud said the goal was to measure a rider against one of the most legendary climbs in the world and compare an amateur performance with the standards of the very highest level, especially with the professionals set to tackle the same road during the Tour de France.
Blanc also framed the moment in wider terms, saying there are talented riders who can slip through the cracks because the amateur circuit is slowly disappearing. On a climb like Alpe d'Huez, that concern meets a very visible benchmark: a time that shows just how high the level can be outside the pro ranks.
