Dear Riders,

Megavalanche 2021 suffered the consequences of the pandemic, especially for our British friends who constitute more than 35% of those registered, and Germans who always come in group, not to mention the more distant Nations who will not be able to come to Alpe d’Huez this year.

As a result, and in full agreement with the authorities of Alpe d’Huez and the Megavalanche partner municipalities, we have decided to organize the placement races on Saturday, the 10^th, and all the Megavalanche races on Sunday, the 11^th.

This choice to group the program will allow us to offer you optimal racing conditions, in particular with a great Glacier on which the snow is such substantial that you will be able to ride it with increased pleasure and safety.

The brand new Mega 10,000 Record is maintained on Thursday and Friday, for all candidates for the Elevation Drop Challenge, and the first 100 will receive a collector’s T-shirt as a trophy.

For the Kids, the race will take place on Saturday, before and after the adult’s qualifications, in 2 rounds.

Atmosphere and conviviality will still be relevant, with the No-Chain Race on Friday and aperos in the heart of the Expo Village.

See you at the Megavalanche in l’Alpe d’Huez from 7 to 11 July !

A successful first edition

Nice return to MTB competition, with the first stage of Maxiavalanche Europe Cup in l’Alpe d’Huez this week-end.

After this forced interruption and these repeated cancellations, it was time for passion to resume its rights on the mythical area of World cycling, cradle of the biggest Downhill in the world, the Megavalanche, canceled this year because of the health crisis, and therefore replaced by the will of the Alpe d’Huez resort and the organizers by this Maxiavalanche which has kept all its promises.

The track chosen for the competitions started from the Dôme des Rousses, at an altitude of 2900m, and straight down to the heart of the Resort. This track is ideal as this unique competition formula consists of positioning the competitors in line at the top, and after particularly rowdy and disputed starts, the first crossing the finish line after more than 1000m of D- is declared winner.

The sanitary devices in matters of social distanciation gave even more value to the performance of each one, since the positions on the starting lines are determined by the results on the qualifications, and that the number of 30 competitors per line was reduced to 20 .

Many were there even before friday to recognize the track and practice the best lines

Two race runs between from snowfields to rocks

 Sunday was devoted to competitions, the first group to set off is composed by the 100 best selected the day before in the Maxiavalanche Europe Cup.

Alex Cure (BH Racing Team) and Florian Nicolaï (Trek Factory Enduro Team) take the lead from the start, with Damien Oton (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) in ambush, but the race is almost 16 minutes sprint, and the most experienced of the Marathon Descenders, in particular the Swiss Gustav Wildhaber (Cube Action Team) who started in second row, will make the difference. Gusti takes the first place ahead of the pilot Orbea Fox, and Dimitri Tordo (Canyon CLLCTV) who demonstrates a very good aptitude in the specialty. The young protégé of Team Scott SR Suntour, Hugo Pigeon, crossed the line in 4th.

Everyone gathered for a final revenge during the second run of this Maxi Europe Cup in Alpe d’Huez, the start was very “hot” and it is Damien Oton, four times winner of the Megavalanche, who confirms his leadership of the specialty ahead of an already very promising Hugo Pigeon, who snatched the second place by a few tenths sprinting with Gustav Wildhaber. Dimitri Tordo also confirms that he is an emeritus Marathon Descender with his fourth place, ahead of Baptiste Gaillot (e * Thirteen Urge BP Enduro Team), a safe bet on the circuit who takes 5th place in this second round ahead of the Belgian Bart De Vocht (Team 2 Racing). Note that the 2019 general winner of the Maxi Europe Cup 2019, Olivier Bruwière (Endurofabriek), crashed heavily in the first round and was unable to defend his leadership position.

A very high level French-Swiss podium

 The ranking gives the measure of the very high level of this revival competition. We find on the highest step in General Damien Oton, in 2nd place Gustav Wildhaber who comes back very strongly after a white season, 3rd Hugo Pigeon on whom we will now have to rely in the Downhill Marathon Mass Start. The two pure Enduro specialists demonstrate their aptitude for this exercise, with the 4th place for Dimitri Tordo and 5th for Florian Nicolaï who promised to come back for the victory. Eighteen nations responded to the invitation, and nearly 350 riders shared their feelings on this magnificent downhill mountain biking area offered by Alpe d’Huez.

Girl Power : Mixed Scratch for the Challengers

For the Ladies, it is Inès Thoma (Canyon Collective), already winner of the 2019 Megavalanche, who is ahead of Laura Charles (Commencal Enduro Team), the French having yet beaten her in the second round. Both are in the top 5 of the Maxi Challengers thanks to their performances of the day. The third place goes to Mélanie Pugin (BH Racing Team) always so combative, ahead of Estelle Charles (Radon Endur’Breizh Team) victim of a disappointment in the second round, and the local Axelle Murigneux (Team Rocky Sports Alpe d’Huez) who complete the Top 5.

High-voltage e-Maxi by Loisibike 

In the E-Maxi (VAE) category, a Portuguese and an Italian competed for the podium, finishing the first and second round in a sprint. In the end it is Emmanuel Pombo (Miranda Factory Team) who climbs on the first step and Marco Milivinti (Husqvarna Ridewill) who follows him, another Portuguese Tiago Ladeira (Miranda Factory Team) completing the electric podium.

Mega Kid, the next generation on the tracks

 Finally, the kids’ race (7-14 years old), which took place over two runs on Saturday, delighted those who will take over very soon and their parents.

In the Minimes (13-14 years old), it is Louis Mercey who wins, followed by Maïko Bernard-Lievens and Ethan Planquart. Merryn Cross and Lily Œillet are on the girl’s podium.

Among the Benjamins (11-12 years old), Guillaume Marmillon is ahead of Léo Godin, and Matéo Wijckmans is on the third step. Louna Calvez courageously finishes the race, and wins a well-deserved trophy.

Juliano Lavergne wins in the Pupilles (9-10 years old), easily ahead of Romain Poli and Merlin Boyer, who keep the merit ! Tya Surel and Lowenna Cross take the podium in girls.

Finally, Tylan Dieu, the only competitor in the Poussins category (7-8 years old), receives the honors of his elders and climbs on the first step by finishing both runs of this Mega Kid de l’Alpe d’Huez.

Most of the competitors have promised to meet again very soon for the second stage of this very special season, which will take place on August the 22d and 23rd in Méribel.

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The first MTB race of this summer !

After the sad but necessary decision to cancel the 25th Megavalanche anniversay, we have had the pleasure to announce the replacement event, later during the summer with a shorter number of riders and on a shorter format. We’re now 15 days ahead of the new Maxiavalanche de l’Alpe d’Huez from 31st july to 2nd of august 2020,  which will allow you to come back to racing, after months of deprivation !

A new Maxiavalanche and a three days program

This 1st and 2d of August’s Maxiavalanche will restart MTB International competitions, due to the will of Alpe d’Huez and UCC, and is based on the track of the usual qualifications.

Start at Dome des Rousses (2900m), and arrival after 7 km downhill in the heart of the Expo Village in Alpe d’Huez, where can be found the expo and tech village to improve everyone’s performances.

This program is based on Maxiavalanche Europe Cup’s one, with a free practice day on Friday (reduction on lift pass for registered riders), official practice on Saturday morning, Mega Kid and seeding runs on Saturday afternoon, followed by a great aperitif during the results and start groups display.

On Sunday, two race runs for each group, Maxiavalanche Europe Cup, E-Bike, Challengers and Amateurs.

Of course, the whole Bike Park is open for full-ride days with friends or family !

Top pilots on their way

European top riders already registered, as Kilian Bron (Commencal), who’s aiming the first step, but also great specialists of DH Marathon like Damien Oton (Orbea), winner of Mega St Paul 2019, Rémy Absalon (Scott SR Suntour), recordman of Mega victories, Olivier Bruwière (Endurofabriek), winner of Mass Start Series 2019, or the British Ben Moore (Orange Factory).

They’ll be challenged by the new Enduro’s generation, including Florian Nicolaï (Trek Factory Racing) or Rémy Absalon’s disciples Hugo Pigeon and Eliott Trabac (Scott SR Suntour), and by experienced riders as Clément Charles (Radon Endur’Breizh Team) or Alex Cure (BH Racing).

Show must go on !

They’ll be challenged by the new Enduro’s generation, including Florian Nicolaï (Trek Factory Racing) or Rémy Absalon’s disciples Hugo Pigeon and Eliott Trabac (Scott SR Suntour), and by experienced riders as Clément Charles (Radon Endur’Breizh Team) or Alex Cure (BH Racing).

Girls power !

For the ladies, a nice panel’s intended also, with Inès Thoma (Canyon Factory Racing), winner of Mega St Paul 2019, Morgane Such (Marin Bikes) and Estelle Charles (Radon Endur’Breizh Team), first and second of General MSS 2019, or Mélanie Pugin (BH Racing), winner of the Mega in 2014.

E-Maxi by Loisibike : ebikes on! 

Last but not least, the E-Bike category will confront the Italian Giorgio Righi (Olympia Bad School E-Bike Team), winner of MSS 2019, with well known and talented Karim Amour (BH Racing).

MEGA KIDS 7 to 14 years old !

The Maxiavalanche is also open to the young champions who will be racing mass-start by age categorie from the lower part of the “adult” track, with to runs on saturday ! 

See you in two weeks for the first Marathon Downhill race of this particular year, with all the sanitary measures in order to keep everyone safe! 

One bike for two at the top of the glacier !

 If in 2017 two riders from Loisibike completed the Megavalanche Reunion Island with an electric tandem (crossing the line without back seat post!), nobody has yet race the one in Alpe d’Huez!

After a few years our tandem riding skills had improve and it became obvious that we needed a more capable bike.  In the 2009 Single Speed World Championships Of New Zealand, one jump in particular would buck Rose so much that her feet would be ripped from the pedals and her bottom would be higher than her head. Very scary! But we couldn’t afford to buy a commercial full suspension tandem frame, so instead Jackson bought a welder, taught himself to weld, and got to work on a new frame.

We’re now on our third homebuilt tandem, progressing the bikes capability in line with our riding skills.  In 2010 there was Bruce, a 140mm XC/Trail bike.  In 2014 there was Trev, a 160/190mm convertible AM/Enduro bike, and in 2017 Derek, a 200mm dedicated DH bike.

We still love the teamwork and being able to ride together.  There are many couples who mountain bike together but few who can be as in-tune as we are.  We also really like being able to race without the pressure of having to beat anyone.  When we come near the back then everyone says “oh well, it’s amazing they could even do it on a tandem“.  And when we come closer to the front then people are still impressed.  Its a nice feeling.

We still ride a lot on our one-person bikes too, but when we race it is almost always on the tandem.

Have you already take part in the Mégavalanche (classic “one-person bike” 😉 )? 

We’ve never done “the” Mégavalanche before, but we have done similar “Mega” style races in New Zealand.  The most recent was the Cardrona Mega Avalanche in January 2018.

Why do you want to ride the Mega with a Tandem? 

The Mega is such an iconic even for mountain bikers.  I think it is probably the most famous mountain bike event in the world outside of the World Cups.  So obviously we want to race it.  So when we got the chance to be in France while the Mega was happening, it was an easy choice.

Who is front, who’s back? Why? 

Jackson is usually the Captain (at the front) and Rose is the stoker.  We sometimes switch around for riding on the road or easy trails, but for anything challenging it is much easier to have the heavier, taller, and stronger person at the front.  The stoker’s weight affects the way the bike moves a lot.  The stoker can steer a tandem from the back seat the same way you can steer your normal bike with no hands on the handlebars.  But this effect is much worse if the stoker is larger.  A good stoker, like Rose, can shift their weight to help the captain 95% of the time.  But because the stoker can’t see where they’re going, they can never get it 100% right.

Which are the hardest part in the trails when you ride a tandem? 

The big challenge for us is low-speed drops that catch the bottom bracket.  Because the front bottom bracket is closer to the front wheel than the back, it falls much more quickly than the bottom bracket on a normal bike.  That means if we can’t do a drop fast, then we can’t do it at all.  As long as we have speed the bottom bracket will fly over the obstacle, so it is only slow-speed sections that are the problem.  Often we can ride a whole DH track only to come unstuck on a little roller on an XC track that has a tight corner just before it, and isn’t steep enough to get speed again.

Everyone assumes that tight corners will be the hardest bit, but they are actually fine, especially when going downhill.  When we have speed we can skid the back wheel around to make the corner work.  As long as it is steep, we can get around any corner that you can ride on a normal bike with both wheels on the ground.  We lose a lot of speed in tight corners, but it is faster than getting off.

How are you going to deal with the Mass-Start and the Glacier? 

Compared to people on normal bikes, we usually lose out a little bit during the first few moments of a mass start race.  We can’t accelerate as fast at the very start, and then because we are so big we can’t fit into small gaps as we jostle with so many others.  But once things settle down a bit after the start then we are riding with others who are not as fast as we are, so we get to make a lot of passing moves.  Its great fun!

We might have some trouble with the glacier though.  We’ve never ridden the tandem on snow-over-ice before.  We seem to go well when conditions are very try and dusty, when it gets slippery on your normal bike.  But when it gets muddy then we start having problems on the tandemearlier than we would on our normal bikes.  But perhaps on the snow we will sink in further and it will work like a rudder?  We will see!

How do you feel about this challenge?

We are both really excited!  We’ve never raced our tandems outside of New Zealand before, so it will be great to take it to the world.  Before we come to the Mega we’re also visiting some people who ride a downhill tandem in Andorra.  It looks like they ride just like we do so it will be fantastic to swap stories and learn skills from each other.

Many thanks to UCC for allowing is to race.  It is wonderful when race organizers have an open mind and can see the fun that a tandem will bring.

© Jay French / Theperfectline / Derek Morrison / James Allan / Rose Green / Cyril  Charpin