Crazy Mountain Bike Race
The Megavalanche (pronounced Avalanche Meg) is the worlds hardest marathon downhill race and was created by former French motocross George Edwards in the mid 90’s.
The first race saw hundreds of French riders arriving at Alpe d’Huez en Oisans the region of France from 3330m to race on the Pic Blanc glacier to Allemont on the valley floor at 720. Covering some 30 kms dropping 2600m and over, you experience all sorts of terrain with snow and ice to rocks and mud.
The race gained popularity and by 2001 over one thousand people from around the world were trying to enter. Only 700 could race from the top (although that many never made the start): a qualifying race on the Saturday was added to weed out some and allow the faster riders to qualify and start near the front. If you start near the front you can not win the race.
The qualifying race in itself is a mega mini. It runs from the top of Dome des Petites Rousses (2800m). Waves of 200 riders take off into the rocks and sometimes snow and head down to the Alpe d’Huez, though never arriving as the track goes up abruptly a road and then starts to drop seriously through many, many, dusty backs switch on its way to Oz en Oisans (1350m). The twist in the tail is the fire track climb just before the end when you can either overtake a lot of people (cross country fit types) or lose a lot of places (170mm fit bike riders with a single ring).
In 1998, bad weather caused the race to start Sunday and lower in the last couple of years the snow has disappeared from the top, left is some lower down. Whether this is due to global warming, the use of snow cannons and their chemicals or something else is debatable. You are now more likely to ride down a field as a rock track. This is a shame as the start as always been one of the focal points of the race.
If you are lucky enough to make the race Sunday you can expect to get up early. The top riders hit the lifts or 6 at 7am and get to stand in the freezing cold at 3300m until 9am.
Helicopters buzz heard over and music Blasts out until eventually the pack are released in waves. Surviving the first 3 kms of snow (or rocks) is often the hardest part. So many riders fall on the steep slopes. Without the proper technique it can be difficult to stay on.
There are many different techniques for riding on snow, from right hanging off the back, sitting on the frame with both legs out hotel style, one leg out, one on the pedal, running alongside the bike, sitting on your ass and sliding with the bike on your lap. The best just go as fast you can lose a lot of time on the snow if you do not get it together.
Next up is the rock infested single track riders were to fight overtakes. You often have to pick up your bike and hike over shares to continue. Then a hiker trails that wants to destroy your pedals, crank with its feet and rocks. There is even a grinder and some grassy muddy streams to cross. By this point you are covered in snow and mud, tired and sweating. This is nearly half way. A brief respite as you pass the start of the lift at Alpe d’Huez DMC, crowds cheer and you can stop for a drink or just plow on.
Onto the scenic road, but no time as its looking for another single track on The Edge. Soon there are switch backs, hot and dusty and another grassy climb and then a road to ride uphill Villard Reculas. Now you are really hot and wish you had not worn all that gear to counter the cold at the top. Then you hit the forest Sardone.
The forest single track is muddy and there are a few short steep climbs that sap the rest of your strength. Then more switch backs that go on forever, a whole normal downhill race of them.
Some cross roads that the police have blocked off, its feels like the end but its more forest. Suddenly you cross a pedestrian bridge and there are people. Pedal for the cross and the finish line at Allemont.
The Toughest Megavalanche is the downhill race in the world and you will take over an hour to complete. This is not a normal downhill race and does not require a downhill bike, although many choose to ride one, no one has ever won on one. There are a couple of climbs and some road work. The are many switch backs and tight.
René Wildhaber (Swiss) has won the race 5 times and is the most winning rider. The other winners have all been French winner All have ridden 130-152mm travel bikes with single crown forks and at least two rings.
The Megavalanche of Alpe d’Huez is a one off event although the UCC and run a Megavalanche on Reunion Island, which is on a volcano in the Indian Ocean. Its quite different in many ways. In 2005 and 2006, which Megavalanche run in Peru in the Valley of the Incas in conjunction with the UCC.
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