The Megavalanche is a mass start downhill endurance mountain bike race set in the beautiful resort of Alpe D’Huez. It is one of the most demanding but popular races of the calendar, attracting up to 2000 entrants including elite riders and competitors from around the globe. The main race departs from Pic Blanc (3300m) in groups of up to 300 riders and descends the mountain via glacier, loose rocky singletrack, fast flowing meadows and steep technical trails etched deep into the hillside and forest. The finish line in Allemont is a mere 32km away and the vertical drop is roughly 2580m!
(The team sporting custom designed Mega jerseys)
The Megavalanche is a true challenge of the cycling world. Most
downhill races in the UK, and elsewhere, are roughly 5 minutes at race pace: a
weekend of practice runs, qualifying and then races. The Megavalanche is a similar
format except the qualifying race can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, and
the main race from 35minutes to 3hrs! It’s a battle of pure physical and mental
attrition, now throw in some of the most technical terrain and shoulder to
shoulder racing and you reach the sort of challenge that members of the RAF
thrive on - especially those in the RAF Downhill Team!
With five willing volunteers, our sights were set on putting
RAF Lossiemouth and the RAF Cycling Association on the map in France in July!
Step forward please; Cpl Ian Churchill (6 Sqn, RAF Leuchars), SAC(T) Phil
Ashcroft, SAC(T) Kris Benson, SAC(T) Lee Mace (all from XV(R) Sqn, RAF
Lossiemouth) and SAC(T) James Redgrove (12(B) Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth).
(Home for a week)
The region of Oisans has fantastic transport facilities -
each day free public buses were available to take us to the lift stations,
equipped with trailers specifically designed to transport almost 50 bikes
comfortably. The lifts from Oz en Oisans and Alpe D’Huez were quick and
efficient despite the thousands of riders putting them to use daily.
Due to the style and grading of trails in France, it was
important to become acquainted with the terrain we were to be racing on. It
soon became obvious after a morning’s ride that the trail rating was much
different to that of the UK. Some of the blue and red trails (comparable to the
ski piste rating system) would likely be graded black or orange at home.
However, the qualities were hard to match - every run brought a long hard smile
to our faces despite the occasional thunderstorm that churned the trails into a
greasier mudfest than Glastonbury festival!
(Getting into the Mega vibe)
Each qualifying race was based on race plate numbers. Approximately
110 riders in each group raced for a place in the best race category they
could. Only the top 24 riders would make the Megavalanche cut: all positions
after that would then filter into the Mega Challengers, Mega Amateurs, and
finally the Mega Affinity. The track was an intense downhill run that started
at the top of Petites Rousses (2810m) - winding its way down the mountainside
on gravel, onto snow and then increasing in gradient through rocky terrain and
loose switchback turns before reaching mid mountain position and a change in
tempo. Man-made trails with table top jumps, and sharp bermed corners swooped
their way into Alpe D’Huez for a short section of urban riding - features
including concrete drops and tunnels made for a fast and fun part of the race,
where many locals were lining the streets and cheering on the competitors for a
welcomed boost. They were even caught cheering “C’mon on RAF”! The final stage
to Huez village featured dusty fast berms (no less than 20 in fact) carved into
the hillside giving tired legs and arms a thorough wake-up call. A tight left
hand corner spat you out onto the final road stretch where everyone could get
onto the pedals and sprint to the finish line after negotiating a narrow
entrance via a basketball court. Huez Village was strewn with muddy bikes and
sweaty riders, all taking time to relive the ordeal and receive their position
and race group allocation in the blistering summer heat. But wait, no time to relax... there’s still
race day to come!
(Mega-landscapes)
All but SAC(T) Phil Ashcroft completed the Qualifier. An
unfortunate overtaking manoeuvre resulted in both man and machine leaving the
track, causing a little tumble and mechanical issue. Maybe next year Phil!?
Qualifier Results
Ian Churchill:
0:27:39 - 30th - Challengers
Lee Mace: 0:30:11 -
59th - Amateurs
Kris Benson: 0:32:08
- 65th - Amateurs
James Redgrove: 0:40:13
- 81st - Affinity
(The summit)
Come race day, 300 riders were amassed at the top of Pic
Blanc - nervous with excitement for the tapes to go up, but more so for Cpl Ian
Churchill as the media helicopter burst into view for the Mega Challengers
race! And off they went, arms from fellow competitors clashed and bikes slipped
from under their pilots on the tricky snow covered start as everyone fought for
the racing line through the carnage. After several km of snow the race soon becomes
tight single-track, so putting down a good overtaking run was of great
importance - navigating the snow was a difficult affair. However squeezing by
with steep banked sides was even more so!
The main race traverses across mid mountain around one third
of the way down, and despite the gradient easing off and double track sections,
every rider continued to put pedal to the metal in order to shrug off close
competitors and make valuable ground on those slowing down the pack, of which
there were many! The Mega is a frustrating race for quick riders hoping to
burst into a good position: every opportunity must be exploited. Before the
track makes its way into the valley a tiring climb out of Alpe D’Huez really
lets each rider recall the hard nature of the race - despite cheering crowds
and water stations. Trying to ride, drink and breathe with a full face helmet
on in the midday sun while putting in max effort is indeed a challenge in
itself!
(Mass start!!!)
As you crest the climb and begin to descend through the
avalanche gates the gradient once again increases dramatically - breakneck
speeds could be achieved before carving into steep corners and tackling the
forest section. The lower third of the
course ticked all the boxes for a fantastic ride, dusty rooted trails with
plenty of grip gave for a lively but amazing ride as you stomped on the pedals
and whizzed by huge fir trees and squeezed by as many competitors as possible. By
now every inch of the body felt every bump and turn, muscles burned with lactic
acid and lungs gulping for air - well aware that the finish line was not too
far away all emotions could be ignored for that last ditch effort to achieve a
better position!
Off the brakes and back to the task in hand, once the final
bridge was passed a sprint (or a very loose version of it!) down the flat Land-Rover
track (which seemed to last an eternity!) followed by the last two corners and
the finish line was in sight. A huge crowd and mass of competitors to greet and
cheer each rider as they wearily passed through the finish gate. The
Megavalanche finally tackled!
Race Results
Ian Churchill: 0:58:56
- 22nd
Kris Benson: 1:16:58
- 63rd
Lee Mace: 1:17:35
- 74th
James Redgrove: 2:11:58 - 209th
(Hard fought results)
The team performed admirably: the results really do not
reflect the hard work and effort put in! (Well maybe Ian Churchill’s does. 22nd
in the Mega-Challengers is pretty impressive!) But despite this, we have all
walked away with a feeling of great achievement and determination to once again
revisit the Megavalanche, and tackle this behemoth race! Thanks go out to RAF
Lossiemouth PEd Flt, SIF, the RAF Sports Board and Sports Lottery, not
forgetting the RAF Cycling Association and lastly Cpl Andy Lochhead, who
instigated the OV but had to pass the organisation on due to injury.
If the above narrative has left you chomping at the bit then
get in touch with the RAF Cycling Association - or head to the official RAF DH
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rafdownhillteam
(Vive la France!)
