This weekend was the 15th Megavalanche in Alpe D’Huez. The Megavalanche in is billed as the worlds longest downhill mountain bike race with a vertical drop of 2580m over 30km and even the worlds best riders will only just get down in under an hour. 2000 riders come from all over the world to race alongside some of the world’s top professional riders. The race is unique because of it’s mass starts, accompanied by circling helicopters and pumping Euro-techno, and due to the fact that the first part of the race takes place on a glacier. More photos and the results after the break.
The men’s race was won in 56 minutes and 2 seconds by Jerome Clementz with Nico Vouilloz just 13 seconds behind in 2nd. Sam Blenkinsop showed just how fit today’s top downhillers are, coming in 3rd just over a minute behind. Remy Absalon was a pre-race favourite but fell at the start and only managed 4th. Other notable results from the World Cup racers are Matti Lehikoinen storming into 5th, Brendan Fairclough (the man they say can’t pedal) in 9th and Joe Barnes banging in a 10th place.
In the women’s race Anne-Caroline Chausson won with a fantastic time of 67 minutes and 40 seconds, which would have got her a top 20 finish in the men’s race. She was followed by Emmeline Ragot and then Meggie Bichard. Tracy Mosely managed 5th and Sabrina Jonnier was 8th, saying that she found the glacier section hard. Special mention to Lyndsey Carson who was the 35th fastest female on her “wee pink hustler” and whose boyfriend, Mark Forrest, provided most of these photos.
