Another view of Megavalanche.

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Megavalanche, you know it?!

French Glacier Mass Start carnage.

I've been always interested in the event, but after seeing videos on Youtube, I’m always more scared than anything else. Then, by chance I got to know Quentin Richard, who works for (UCC) the Organization behind the event. He invited me and my girlfriend to help out at the 2018 edition.
We really enjoyed the experience, and had lined up to help the Team in 2019 due to COVID we couldn’t make it.

This year we made it back to Alpe d’Huez to join the Team for the Megavalanche as a volunteer. It might sound strange to work during a holiday. Nevertheless, being an IT-Specialist I like to do these kind of things, as I don’t need to rest physically. And one week in the mountains, meet cool people, have some beers, and do some riding (beside all the work) is a great way to rest from a normal working week.

After arriving at Alpe d’Huez in the evening, I met some of the team, old and new. We headed to our rooms in the Hotel (I was sharing an appartment with three others) then next was the first staff dinner (very important in France ;-).)

Monday, the work starts. we prepared the Race Office and Starter Packs for all Racers (some 1400ish) and all the other pre-race prep.
This continued on Tuesday until lunch, where afterwards I had free time ride at the bike park (Yeehah)!
Lunch means, the whole Team goes to a Restaurant, orders proper food and socialises. I really enjoy this, it’s completely different to a German approach. Working in a foreign country opens you up to new ways of thinking about how to do things.

Wednesday in the Race Office was a big day. We opened registration for the riders to sign on, collect the starter packs. And we could check licenses and medical certificates.

Thursday would have been another day at race HQ, but luckily I was needed on the glacier.
Quentin and I went up to prepare for the Speed Race, which involved setting up the speed trap and the Start. Not long after that the riders started to show up.

The idea of the speed race is to descend the glacier as fast as possible, and get the quickest time through the speed trap. Absolute madness! Previously, the fastest speed has been as fast as 98 km/h. Even the pros looked a little scared!
Afterwards, I was able ride down the Megavalanche Track to Alpe d’Huez. It was the first time I descended a glacier: very exciting but very scary (I wasn't even at race speed). Luckily, only the first section is on the glacier, everything else is alpine riding.

From Friday the racing started. Friday morning we went up the Mountain to organize the qualifying.
Everybody has a Quali run, no one misses out on the main event, the times are used to sort out the start order for Saturday and Sunday.
Waves of roughly 100 riders (mass Start again) race down a different Track to the main race, that is a little more technical. If you crash, flat or don’t make it through, you will still be allowed to Race, but you’ll start with the last wave.

The weekend brings the main event: E-bikes, Ladies, Kids, main Megavalanche race and the trail run.
And a major logistical headache of getting all the bikes and riders to the top. Therefore the gondola opens at 6am (the race doesn’t even start til 9am) Seems like an early start but there is one line to the top.

The start of Megavalance is a site to behold. All the riders haring down the glacier at full speed. Completely insane. You won’t believe how fast they go.

Later on Saturday, after all races had started, I had the chance to ride the Megavalanche Track by myself. Its challenging not just because of its length: the start on the glacier, then the alpine trails followed by the woods at Alpe d’Huez, the bike park and everything else. It is the complete package. Then there is the temperature you start at 5 degrees and finish at 35 degrees down in the valley.

After the main race on Sunday, my time in Alpe d'Huez is up.
I will be back. I love the atmosphere: from meeting new people, to the riding, experiencing different cultures. And even though I do not speak French at all, I felt very welcome working as part of a French team.


Words & Pictures: Olaf Bolting