Megavalanche Alpe d’Huez
Welcome to our Megavalanche Alpe d’Huez information site.
We have set up this website to provide a one stop information point on everything you need to know about the Megavalanche event that is held in Alpe d’Huez each year.
The event has been running now for over 10 years in Alpe d’Huez and makes up a series of events known as the Avalanche Trophy (official organisers website htp://www.avalanchetrophy.com) . The format of the race is to qualify in one of your heats on the Friday and then depending on your final qualifying position you will get to race on either the Saturday or Sunday in the main Megavalanche event.
Please post your comments advice or questions at the bottom of the pages. By doing so we can make this website even more informative.
Phil and Helen
N.B. This is not the official megavalanche website. Please visit htp://www.avalanchetrophy.com
Hi,
It my first year and I plan to cycle on a specialised enduro full suss with SPD pedals.
What do you think?
Dan JFDI
sounds perfect
Getting some practice on the snow here in Sierra Nevada right now, unpredictable to say the least. Really looking forward to the Mega in July, i’ll be on my Bionicon Supershuttle FR but still not sure whether it’s full body armour or keep it light with elbows and knees?
What do you think?
the first year i competed i did so with full body armour. I found it too hot as there is a load of pedalling sections and in July it will be warm. Also you are in a race situation. Ever since the first year i have just used arms and leg protection – i would go for full legs covering shins – and a full face helmet of course . If you feel happier wearing full body armour then I would use it. Bike will be perfect as well.
My first year too, riding an Iron Horse 6.4 and looking forward to it (and a little bit wary)
Where is the best place to stay, my partners coming along but she won’t be riding so will be doing cooking etc.
Looking for somewhere to stay with room for bike and gear etc, fairly standatd fare really.
Looking at comments above re body armour, has anyone tried the 661 sub gear, looks like it could be a happy medium but haven’t tried it myself yet.
Any thoughts on accomodation and tips for riding greatly apprciated.
Cheers
Hi Chris,
Ride Oisans have space up in Alpe d’Huez but this is not on a self catered basis. They have hotel accommodation or full hotel accommodation. Both have bike storage and not riders are very welcome. Why not give your partner a holiday as well and let someone else do the cooking
. We also have properties in Bourg d’Oisans but this would mean a drive up every morning but then there is more for you partner to do in Bourg d’Oisans
Phil
I also going with my GF and she isn’t biking either( well nit in megavalanche anyhow)
We are camping at a really good site not far from les deux an alp d huez, I camped there 2 years ago and had a blast.
Hi Dan,
Have you got the details of the campsite you stayed at?? I’m looking for somewhere to camp too.
Thanks
Matt
Hi Dan what was the name of your campsite thanks roger
I’m taking part for the first time too; I’m trying to find the best way to get to Alpe d’Huez from Scotland, does anyone have any advice?
I’ll be riding a specialised big hit so I don’t have to worry about the bike too much, although I think I might have to do a bit of pushing – was planning on full body armour, but the other comments about the heat are well worth considering, esp with a heavier bike.
Is it easy to get information on other riding in the area; I’m in town for the whole week, but only entered in the Mega, will obviously be practicing, but would like to make the most of the trip to see the area too.
You need to get to grenoble station from there there are regular buses upto Alpe d’Huez They are used to taking bikes on board. From Scotland to Grenoble flights to Lyon or Geneva and then bus to Grenoble. There are loads of marked routes in Alpe d’Huez itself so once here you can pick up a MTB map. They are all well sign posted. Ride Oisans are also offering transfers from Lyon to Alpe d’Huez on the 4th July for people staying with them. Unfortunately there return transfer is already fully booked for the 11th July though.
Can anyone else help with the Sotland to Alpe d’Huez part ?
I am going for the week and plan to travel back Tuesday after the meg.
Have not done it before but did les deux alpes an loved it.
I am driving over with a vw t5 kombi, with my girlfriend, my brother is also going but in his own Toyota hi lux. If you want a lift and only pay your fuel share and ferry then you could jump in with me at Ashford in Kent.
Dan,
Thanks for the reply; car sharing definitely looks like the way forward here.
May well take you up on your offer if someone else doesn’t jump in there first.
Was looking at getting the train down, and have to say crossing from Euston to St Pancras could be good practice!
Steve, I will book ferry / tunnel this week, if you are up for a share on the fuel etc let me know. Once I book the channel crossing it is quite hard to amend it. I plan to leave on Tuesday 5th and return on Tuesday 12th.
Dan.
All told the fuel cost me £230 and the tolls were about £160 (round trip) so you could get there fairly cheap
Dan
Dan,
Thanks very much for the offer, I’ve managed to find a car share from further north leaving earlier for more riding before the main event. Just got it sorted. My apologies if you’ve been waiting for me, have a good trip.
Steve
No problems, If you know anyone who is struggling to get there then get them to give me a shout.
Dan
This event is wicked. Only that, from where I come from, there is no such thing. Yet.
Just curious, would a 5″ or 5.5″ bike be suffice for an event like this?
either would be fine .
Hey guys, can anyone recommend a good campsite in/near Alpe d’Huez that will take a VW camper?
Really looking forward to the race!!!
Matt
Hi, I stayed at a place the year before last when I went to les deux alpes which was at the foot of the mountain between les deux and alpe de huez. It was nothing flash but was well placed with hot showers and a very clean pool. Nothing to do there buy camp and chill… For info I plan to stay at exactly the same site this year which is my first year for mega and guess what….. I also have a T5. Let me know if you still looking and I will dig out the name of it.
Dan – Ashford Kent.
Daniel could you send the name of campsite and the rates thanks roger
Damn, can’t make it this year. But I think I get some days off in Sept. There is another marathon Downhill in Italy, I’ll head there!
I was wandering they have been talking of a new course any info on that??
I have done it in the past once with heavy 2.5 minnions I was wandering if 2.35 dual ply wouldnt be enough? and is a granny ring really important or can i just keep my 36 single upfront?
i would use a dual ring upfront unless you plan to walk the hills. 2.35 dual ply are perfect
Is anybody going for the week, I’m off to watch on my motorbike.
I wondered if there is anyone from the midlands going? who could take my bike, if I paid towards the petrol?
John
Sorry, take my mountain bike
Hello,
I have a question regarding race licences. Will a provisional one from British Cycling be enough, or do you need a full one?
Thanks.
my understanding is you will need a full licence best get a medical certificate just in case
I am entered in this years mega and plan to have a health certificate from my doctor BUT, what is a licence? I have never heard this anywhere in my application?
Can someone please clarify the license situation? Do you need a race licence for mega?
you do not need a race licence. If you want to race without a licence then you need a doctors certificate to say you are fit and healthy
Hi folks, it will be my first Mega ride, there are three of us coming over for the week, can’t bloody wait.
I am riding an Orange 5 AM with Tallas 160′s, chain device, hope v2′s, I am worried if the 140 mm end will hold up, I have been used to a Remedy 8, what’s your thoughts?
Full light weight 661 body armour too! not only to protect you but to loose weight too!
Oh can anyone give advice on race insurance please, re; helicopter/hospital etc.
cheers guys.
I checked out the British Cycling website and found a good deal for insurance which covers you for events form a company they recommended – I am a member of BC by the way – you may need to join too. This is travel and medical insurance combined and very reasonable considering how much you might need to pay out if you hurt yourself. I also got a FREE E111 equivalent off the NHS which gives you reciprocal rights in the EU for medical treatment. Beware there are numerous websites that will charge you up to a tenner to get an E111; go direct.
Hi there, just wondering if anyone has an update on the top part of the course..? Is there actually any snow at all this year? If not, what’s the surface underneath.. just rubbly ski road I would guess? Be good to hear from anyone who has done it in years where there is no snow!
Just another point to add, I’ve heard that the provisional race licence from British Cycling is acceptable, and it’s free when you join so much cheaper than a £50 doctor’s note!
Hi there,
Dan, details of the campsite would be sweet if you have them.
Steve
Look out on here over this weekend for campsite details, I am still unsure I where to camp as ideally I would prefer not to have to drive to the resort every day. That said if I don’t find owt decent I will stay at the same place as I did before. Lime I said details will be on here sat/sun.
Dan
Anyone arriving at Geneva Airport on Saturday 2nd June? I am looking into transfers to Alpe de’Heuz…
Hi all,
Just wondering what sort of time people are heading over. Never been therefore before so don’t know the drive and all that.
On the 03.20 (bl**dy early) ferry from Dover on Monday 04 July.
Me and the bird are leaving Sunday pm on the eurostar. It’s an easy route down.
If you need any advice give me a shout.
Thanks Steve, I managed to get covered from DOGTAG Ins, they have a Megavalanche insurance cover on their extreme cover, only £31 for 10 days min cover too!
see you all there, 8 of us getting in to Alpe D’uez on Sunday evening!!!
I’m looking into it for next year and decided to get all the info I can possibly get.
I will be riding a orange patriot with 170mm boxer rides up front and a fox vanilla rc with about 6-7 inch on the back and flats (are clips better for this event?).
With all this about race licenses how do I get one and how much or is a doctors note better (do I need both?).
I will also be going with my partner and my 2yr old son (that will be his age at next year) and would like to know of any good camping or self catering around the area.
Cheers James
Good luck to all of you guys racing In this years
James, for your first time this is a good forgiving choice, which will allow you to ride anything in the area – you’re there for a week remember. You will find a lot of 150mm bikes there, but mostly ridden by folks who have been before. I rode first time last year on a 170 / 160mm single crown downhill frame, which was over specced and a bit heavy, but I had no mechanicals and by squeezing a double chainring and bash on, managed to ride the whole route. It’s a compromise between having a bike that will survive and look after you at the same time so you can enjoy yourself, or getting the lightest bike you can and going for the quickest time. I think you’ve got a good ride to have a good time.
As for Licences – I paid £95 for a full racing licence as I thought I’d use it during the rest of the year, but queued to register with a bunch of people who just had doctor’s notes. Last time I went to my GP for this I got one for free – I’d go that route if I was you.
There was free camping at the top of the village last year, but it is pretty basic although 30 seconds from town and the first uplift. If you’re taking your family, there is a proper campsite in Allermont at the bottom, you will have to get up the hill in the mornings which means a slightly earlier start, but it’s a compromise. I’m not sure of the transport situation: I know that later in the week last year there was a free bus transfer to Oz from the bottom of the Mega track in Allermont, and from there with your lift pass you could get up and over with a short fun run into Alpe d’Huez, but I’m not sure when it started. It was certainly very easy rough camping and rolling into the queue, but not necessarily what you want with the family. The free camping was friendly, but elbow to elbow, and relied on portaloos mostly.
Have a great time.
Hi, A few of us are wanting to do the mega next year and will be stoping for a week. Do you know of any good places to stop? we stoped in morzine last year with a place called Riders Refuge, basicaly it was a self catering lodge but they cooked for us, it was exellent and run by a top English couple, somewhere like this would be good. Also what do you ask for from the doctor? we did the passportes de solie last year and didnt need any licence or doctors note.
When they release the enteries do you have to get in there fast before they all go? how limited are the places? with the passportes you had to get them as soon as they were released or you’d blown it.
Hi Mat,
We use a hotel for our accommodation this year we are using the BeauSoliel right next to the main lifts have a look here
http://www.polkadotstop.com/megavalanche.asp
We used to do a chalet but we just have too many guests wanting to stay with us so we have switched to the hotel
Entries tend to go fairly steadily but in past years you have not needed to get them on the day
Phil
Ride Oisans
Hi! Do you have to qualify within a certain number to take part in actual race or does the qualifyng just place you in start groups?
Where you qualify determines where you start either in the Pro Race the Second Race or the Infinity Race. Either way you get to do the race itself. The faster you qualify the closer to the front you will be.
Phil
http://www.rideoisans.com/megavalanche.asp
You are set off in groups of approx 200 for the qualifier. Where you come in your group then determines what you ride (and which day) on the main event. There is the Mega for the fastest qualifiers, then the Mega amateurs and the Mega challengers, which are still the full group start on the Megavalanche track. Last year was my first year, and I didn’t qualify for these in my group, and was in the MegaAffinity, which is split over two days. MegaAffinity is a timed run down the whole Mega Track but without the mass start. I really enjoyed it, and reading the mags later realised that I got a similar time to one of the riders for MBUK, although he got a mechanical while racing others, and I rode without that pressure – still overtook and got overtook, but good fun. As an aside, there were several people who I met who stayed where I was, who had arranged to leave on the sunday, thinking all the races were on saturday, but in fact half of the events occur on the sunday, so they had to go home, having not ridden.
would a 100mm hardtail (4x style) be able to handle this ?
or is that pushing it a bit ?
depends how good a rider you are
Hello, I’m planning to attend in Megavalanche this year. I’m 53 age, is there any catagory for my age group?
I’ve been looking at different sites here and am wondering what the entry fee for the mega is? also prices for a package of accomadation etc all in. have spent to long looking now and have confused myself.
Visit the official website to enter it should not cost more than 100 euros. Ride Oisans sell accommodation through http://www.polkadotstop.com/megavalanche.asp
What is the entry fee for the mega?
Another “is my bike good enough” question….sooo…..does anyone who’s ridden Megavalanche before think a Cannondale Prophet with coil Pikes would be okay?
yep probably an ideal bike
Another “depends how good a rider you are answer” from me. I rode my Prophet with Coil Pikes on the qualifier track last year. It would have been fine on the event but I rode a burlier bike on both qualifier (becasue it was so rough), and mega track because I wanted some more margin for error on the long track. Bottom line for me was that my Prophet is my ‘baby’ and I didn’t want to put it through all that – if you’re not so sentimental then you’ll be fine. One advantage I hadn’t counted on of the bike I rode was that it was a Specialized with FSR suspension, which allowed me to brake on braking bumps where the Cannondale with its single pivot would have bucked about, and by the time you’re into the woods on the Mega track, some of the braking bumps start 20-30 metres before the bends! Bottom line; if you are not too heavy on your bike and not sentimentally attached to it – I would have to agree with rideoisans as it is light and capable of taking the hits.
Hi, can anyone tell me if its possible to register for other people, as there are 4 in our group.
Hi, after my first ride in the 2011 Mega it’s all go this year, what a fantastic place it is, hope to catch up with you all if your going this year, race tickets available to book on Monday 16th Jan….yeeee hawwwwww!
Hello all this will be my 3rd year in the Mega but this year i see no Avalanche cup down to Oz is it still going ahead ???? Cheers for any info.
Hi, Ive booked in the mega for the first time and Im wondering about the qualifiers, are they on the thursday/friday? as we wont arrive till late on wednesday, if so what do you have to do to get sorted for them.
Also we have booked in the hotel ride oisans is using , will there be anyone working there who will be able to help us out with where to go and what to do for the qualifiers and race?
Sorry for all the questions but I would rather know what im doing before I get there.
Cheers Mat
The Megavalanche website will post a timetable fairly soon I would expect.
I understand if you are time/funds limited, but I rode the Mega for the first time last year and camped for the start of the week at the ‘free’ site under the cablecar station at the top of town in Alpe D’Huez so that I could ride in the area and ride all the tracks a few times before the events. I found this to be massively beneficial (not least for getting used to the altitude), and for a first time I would thoroughly recommend this – there’s enough going on (esp on the quali) without not being sure what’s round the next bend! I moved into a hotel for the last few days so I got a good night’s sleep.
I found I was ahead of the game a little in comparison to those people who arrived fresh at the end of the week just for the events.
As for the arrangements, initial stuff will be on the site before you go, and once you are there it is all very well organised indeed – on registering you will get a timetable.
Thanks Steve, thats very helpfull. I was planning on going for the week but the lads Im going with cant do a full week, and we are car sharing, so we will have to dive in at the deep end.
Hi,
I have full race licence, will I need a doctors note as well?
Ian
no the full race licence should be fine
Hi, I am doing this years Mega and will be there with my family. We will be in a motor home and probably staying down in Bourg d’oisans. Is there a shuttle service up to Alpe d’Huez?
There is no shuttle service from Bourg d’Oisans just Allemont where the race finishes
Loads of great info, thanks!
just one thing, how do you recommend getting there? Flight, drive, Coach?
Any tips much appreciated!
Hi i lost my record of the entry to this years megavalance how do i find prof of my entry road runner