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MASS APPEAL
How does the infamous Megavalanche keep being so darned Mega?
Since 1995, thousands of riders have lined up at the top of the Pic Blanc glacier each summer to race the notorious Megavalanche Alpe d'Huez. This crazy mass-start descent begins at the lift station, 3,300m up, and plummets down to the valley floor in Allemont (713m), covering a total of 20km. On the way, the terrain goes from ice, snow and rock to loam and dirt, following a mix of high-altitude goat tracks and tight, steep forest singletrack. It's not just the mountain that the competitors have to conquer, either - with hundreds of riders on the trails at the same time, fighting for the best line, crashes are all too common and the event has a reputation for eating bike parts. Regarded with both awe and apprehension, each year some 1,300 to 1,800 people sign up for it, many returning multiple times. Just what is it that gives the Mega such enduring appeal? We spoke to a range of people at this year's race to find out...
Charlie Williams
Mega veteran
This story is from the August 2022 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
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This story is from the August 2022 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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