Prizm Racing - Flying High in France The New Alpe d’Huez KOM Holders

It’s July, and that can only mean one thing - The Tour de France! It’s cycling’s Super Bowl, World Cup, Masters, World Series and Stanley Cup packed into a three-week, rolling extravaganza of peak athletic competition. It transcends the sport and is the reference that even the least knowledgeable, non-cyclist can cite at a local trivia night. The race was first run in 1903 as a marketing stunt by L’Auto newspaper (now L’Équipe) to increase circulation. Editor Henri Desgrange embraced a proposal from his young journalist, Géo Lefèvre, to organize a massive, multi-day national bicycle race. The inaugural event was a resounding success, captivating the French public and boosting L’Auto’s subscriber numbers tenfold from 25,000 to 250,000 between 1903 and 1908.

Fast forward nearly five decades, and the race had cemented its iconic status in Europe and around the globe, despite eleven cancelled editions due to the World Wars. On July 4, 1952, more history was made when the Tour de France hosted the first-ever mountaintop finish atop the Alpe d’Huez. Italian cycling great Fausto Coppi won the inaugural stage, up the 21 switchbacks of the narrow, dusty, and gravel-strewn track in 45 minutes and 22 seconds. Despite its successful debut, the climb didn’t return to the race until 1976 (now paved), and thereafter became a regular fixture, and ultimately the most famous climb among the giants that make up the French Alps and Pyrenees. At 13.8 km in length and an 8.1% average gradient, its switchbacks are lined with hundreds of thousands of fans, parting like waves for the Tour riders at the last second, as they ascend toward its heavenly summit. Its lore has even permeated the digital realm, with many of us having had the pleasure/displeasure of scaling the Zwift equivalent, in the form of the Alpe du Zwift, while Rouvy also offers an Alpe d’Huez ride for those looking to see the pavement in a non-animated form.

When we were approached by the newly formed French team, Prizm Racing, this spring, and learned more about their lofty goal of claiming the verified Strava KOM this summer, we didn’t hesitate to join forces. The segment, while slightly shorter than the full climb, is still a daunting 12.02 km, with an average gradient of 8.8%, 1,047 m of elevation gain and, of course, 21 switchbacks. Coincidentally, Jack Burke, a Canadian ex-pro rider, was the KOM crown holder for the segment, at a time of 36 minutes and 5 seconds, which he took from WorldTour pro Sepp Kuss approximately one year ago. Knowing how crucial reliable power data would be to the team’s training and in the coordinated pacing of the team effort on the day, it was an exciting opportunity to work together on this project. After a less-than-ideal attempt on the morning of June 18th, in 28°C heat, the team returned the following evening at 9 p.m. in cooler conditions and pulled off the impressive feat! Arthur Blanc, the team’s purest climber, was guided by his Prizm teammates before flying solo to claim the legendary Alpe d’Huez segment in a time of 35 minutes and 38 seconds.

The mountainous success was well documented by the team, which you can find on their social channels, but we also wanted to pick the brain of the team’s founder, Maël Coiquaud, about the new French squad and what transpired on the Alpe d’Huez. Read on to learn more about a team with a fresh approach to racing, and their success on the Alpe that has loomed large in the sport for the better part of a century!

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How did Prizm Racing come together?

Prizm Racing was founded at the end of 2025 with the goal of creating a new type of cycling team, one that combines high-level athletic performance with modern storytelling and content creation. We felt that many talented amateur and elite cyclists were producing incredible performances that often went unnoticed outside of the racing community. Prizm Racing was created to bridge that gap and bring cycling to a wider audience through compelling content, ambitious sporting projects, and strong brand partnerships.

Can you describe the mission or objective of the team?

Prizm Racing was created by a group of passionate cyclists who share a deep love for the sport and everything that comes with it. Our mission is not only to perform at a high level and pursue ambitious sporting goals, but also to share that passion with a wider audience through authentic storytelling and content creation.

Through our content, we aim to showcase every aspect of cycling: the victories, the setbacks, the training, the challenges, and the unforgettable landscapes that make this sport so special. Whether it’s chasing a KOM on one of cycling’s most iconic climbs, racing prestigious events, or simply exploring beautiful roads together, we want to inspire others to get on a bike and experience the same passion that drives us every day.

Performance remains at the heart of Prizm Racing, but we believe cycling is about much more than results alone. It’s about adventure, teamwork, pushing personal limits, and creating memorable experiences that can be shared with the cycling community.

Who makes up the roster for this season?

Prizm Racing is built around a group of riders with complementary strengths. Our roster for the 2026 season consists of:

Maël Coiquaud – Founder of Prizm Racing and an all-round rider. Responsible for team management, partnerships, project planning, and content creation while also competing at a high level on the bike.

Léo Philibert – Co-founder of the team and a climber. Léo plays a key role in both the sporting and strategic direction of Prizm Racing, bringing consistency, experience, and leadership to the group.

Louen Coiquaud – The youngest rider on the roster and arguably one of the team’s most exciting prospects. An exceptionally talented climber, Louen continues to impress with his rapid progression and natural ability in the mountains.

Arthur Blanc – Currently the strongest pure climber on the team and the rider who holds the team’s Alpe d’Huez KOM. Arthur’s ability to produce world-class climbing performances makes him one of the team’s key assets for major mountain objectives.

Baptiste Lombardi – The team’s ultimate all-rounder. Fresh off a victory at the Marmotte Granfondo, Baptiste combines exceptional versatility with a selfless approach to racing, making him the perfect teammate and domestique when the team needs support around a designated leader.

When did the Alpe d’Huez KOM attempt become a goal for the team?

The idea emerged during the winter as we were discussing iconic cycling challenges that could combine performance, storytelling, and team execution. Alpe d’Huez immediately stood out. It is one of the most legendary climbs in cycling and represented the perfect objective for our first season. As the season progressed and our form improved, we realized the attempt was genuinely achievable and began preparing specifically for it.

What does Alpe d’Huez mean to you as a French team?

For any cyclist, Alpe d’Huez is special. For a French team, it carries even more significance because it is deeply connected to cycling culture in France. Growing up, we watched the Tour de France stages on this climb and dreamed about riding it ourselves.

All of our riders had climbed Alpe d’Huez before, but approaching it as a coordinated team effort with the objective of setting the fastest ascent possible created a completely different experience. Every switchback has history attached to it, and knowing the Tour would return only weeks later made the challenge even more meaningful.

What logistical planning and team strategy went into this effort?

The attempt required several weeks of planning, from selecting the right day and weather conditions to defining each rider’s role and pacing strategy.

Our objective was to give Arthur the best possible chance of setting the fastest ascent, which meant treating the effort like a true team time trial before the decisive solo section of the climb.

Just before the base of Alpe d’Huez, Maël delivered an almost all-out three-minute effort on the flat approach to bring Arthur up to speed and position him perfectly for the start of the climb.

Once on the lower slopes, Léo took over and set the pace for the first two kilometres, helping establish a strong rhythm while keeping Arthur sheltered as much as possible.

From there, Louen took the lead and produced an impressive fourteen-minute effort, pacing Arthur deep into the climb and allowing him to conserve valuable energy during the early and middle sections. Once Louen had completed his pull, Arthur continued alone for the remainder of the ascent, maintaining the target power output all the way to the summit.

While the final record belongs to Arthur, it was very much a team effort. Every rider had a clearly defined role, and the success of the attempt came from the combination of careful planning, teamwork, and flawless execution on the day.

In terms of physical output, what considerations were you factoring in?

Because Alpe d’Huez is a long climb, sustainable power output was the primary performance metric. We focused heavily on:

• Watts per kilogram
• Pacing strategy
• Rider weight optimization
• Aerodynamic efficiency in the lower sections
• Thermal management and hydration
• Power meter accuracy and consistency

Having reliable power data from our 4iiii power meters was critical because it allowed us to pace the effort precisely rather than relying purely on feel.

Can you share some data from the riders that day?

Rider: Louen Coiquaud (key pace-setter for the first half of the attempt)
Time: 14 minutes 25 seconds
Avg Power: 375 W
Avg W/kg: 6.35 W/kg
Avg Speed: 19.6 km/h
Max Power: 586 W

Rider: Arthur Blanc (designated leader for the attempt)
Time: 35 minutes 38 seconds (Verified Strava KOM)
Avg Power: 335 W
Avg W/kg: 6.13 W/kg
Avg Speed: 20.2 km/h
Max Power: 738 W

Can you detail the equipment used?

For the Alpe d’Huez attempt, every equipment choice was made with performance in mind. We relied on the following tools for the KOM:

• Bike: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8
• Power Meter: PRECISION 3+ Pro Powermeter
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
• Clothing: Gobik custom Prizm Racing kit
• Helmet: Specialized Evade
• Wheels: Roval Alpinist CLXIII
• Nutrition: Overstim’s gel

The combination of lightweight equipment, accurate power measurement, and a coordinated pacing strategy played a major role in the success of the attempt. What’s next for the team?

While racing remains a major focus for Prizm Racing, our ambition extends beyond traditional competition. We want to continue chasing victories and strong results throughout the season, but also take on more unique projects that bring the cycling community along for the journey.

The success of the Alpe d’Huez KOM attempt showed us how rewarding it can be to combine performance, storytelling, and teamwork around a common objective. Moving forward, we plan to organize more challenges, pursue iconic KOMs, take on endurance projects, and host rides with our community.

Some of our biggest sporting goals for the remainder of the season include L’Étape du Tour Homme, finishing atop Alpe d’Huez, and L’Étape du Tour Femme, finishing on the legendary slopes of Mont Ventoux. Beyond the results themselves, these events are opportunities to create inspiring content, share our passion for cycling, and connect with the growing community that supports Prizm Racing.

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We tip our cycling cap to the riders of Prizm Racing for their ambitious achievement and unique approach to capturing and sharing their exploits this season. We’re proud to have played a small but powerful role in their Alpe d’Huez KOM attempt, and look forward to teaming up with them on future adventures.

Follow Prizm Racing and their exploits here

Learn more about 4iiii Power Meters here