Avalanche Cup, Oz en Oisans and Mega Avalanche, Alp D’Huez

After a couple of weekends at home it was road trip time again and this time I was off to Alp D’Huez to take part in a week of riding and a race that I have always wanted to do – the Mega Avalanche. Having done a mega avalanche in the Reunion Island a few years ago I have always wanted to do the one at Alp D’Huez as it’s a mass start just the same but this one starts on the glacier !! Racing down the snow was going to be quite an experience ! Crazy mountain weather was going to be a recurring theme on this trip as we drove through some of the most torrential rain I have ever seen for at least 2 hours on our way to Alp D’Huez. Fortunately the next morning we woke up to a few drizzles, but the sunshine soon came out and we went out exploring, trying to piece together the trails we would be riding this weekend. I was fortunate to be using the new Kona Coilair Deluxe bike which I think is the perfect bike for this kind of riding. With up to 7” of travel but it still climbs really well. Also thanks to Gravity Dropper I had a seatpost with height adjustment at the handlebar which was so good for this type of mountain riding. During the week at the Mega there is also a downhill race at Oz en Oisans, where I raced a French Cup last year. It’s a great track, long and fast and hard on your arms. It was slightly less technical for this race, but still a great race track. I took the win managing to improve my second run time by 8 secs.

The next day it was back on the little bike and off up to Pic Blanc the highest peak in Alp D’ Huez to practice the full mega track. The view from the start was amazing and as I looked over the edge all I could see was snow !! This year there was the most snow they have ever had for the race, nearly 2km of piste before it hit the singletrack !! Having never ridden on the snow before I was really not sure what to expect. I listened to a French instructor giving some technique guidelines for a group he was taking down and thought I would give it a go. One foot out as a balancing pole and ski and I was hoping a brake, and my bottom off the back of the saddle resting on the back tyre again hoping it would act as a brake !! As soon as I set off I was off and there was no stopping ! The piste suddenly went over a crest and I was off down a black ski run, sliding completely out of control !! Somehow I managed to stay upright and once I came to a halt at the corner my heart was racing…that was some adrenaline rush !! It then continued down a flatter section of piste where you felt like you could ride normally until you hit a rut and had to save the big highside that was about to occur !! The trail then turned into the most amazing singletrack just traversing around the mountainside on shale and rock, it was awesome. It then worked its way back around to the village of Alp D’Huez with a couple of short climbs. Once in the village it was time for the seat up and get pedalling ! It traversed around another hill and then up a horrible short steep climb, and then it was flowing smooth singletrack through woodland and pasture all the way to the finish. It really is a tough race as your arms are screaming at you to have a rest and get off the brakes ! It took us about 1.5hrs just cruising down taking in the view. To do it in less than 1hr which the winning guys do is very impressive !!

Before you get to take part in the main mega race you first have to qualify. The Qualification track is just over half the length and starts lower down. It’s a wicked technical trail for the first half with rocks the size of footballs rolling down the trail into your path, as it’s constantly changing with all the riders ! There were about 60 women and the start was a sprint straight into a series of switchbacks on a fire road. I was determined to be in the front going into the technical stuff as I knew that would be where I could make up some time. I had a great start and led from the outset. I didn’t realise just how hard on your breathing it would be pushing that hard at 2600m ! It took me such a long time to get my breath back and start riding fast and smoothly in the technical stuff. There was one short fireroad climb where I just put my head down and hoped no one would catch me. Once you crested the climb that was it for the climbing and it was wicked smooth singletrack switchbacks down the meadows and into the woods to finish in a little village down the valley. I managed to stay ahead of the field and finish in 31mins 1min 40secs ahead of second place. It was then time for a great buffet in the village and then to catch the lifts back up to Alp D’Huez.

Unfortunately the amazing weather we had all week would soon end and I was woken a few times in the night by the rain hammering down and the incredible show of thunder and lightning ! In order to get everyone to the top of the hill in time for the start you have to set out 2.5hrs before your start. The weather had already meant that the race could not start on the glacier as I think it was actually snowing up there ! That was a real shame as that for me was the main attraction of this race ! The plan was to start at the same place as the qualifier and then once in Alp D’Huez it would continue down the mega track. I made it up the first lift before it closed because of the lightning. We then had a 20 min ride across to catch the next lift. It had just started to pour with rain so I decided that I would get less wet and it would be quicker if I rode down the downhill track to Oz en Oisans and caught another lift up from there. Unfortunately I got completely soaked and when I reached Oz the lift was closed ! Also the lift back up was closed due to the lightning so I was stuck in Oz absolutely soaked in the pouring rain ! After about 1 hour I got back up to AlpD’Huez and began riding across to the lift. As I was riding I met a load of people coming back having given up waiting as no one had still gone up to the start. By this time it was past my start time and the men had not even left for the top of the hill. I couldn’t feel my feet and hands and decided to call it a day as no one quite seemed to know what was happening. I was so cold I felt it could be quite dangerous racing not being able to feel my fingers to brake. I also have the next 2 rounds of the world cup in a week and decided to get down the hill and get warm. It was another 2 hours before the sun came out and the women’s race finally started. My only complaint was that there was no information or communication from the start as to what was going on. If I knew it was delayed I could have gone back, got dry kit and made it back up in time. After such a fantastic week and great organisation it was a shame a large percentage of the field gave up waiting in the rain and didn’t start the race. I was really disappointed not to have raced, but I now have a reason to come back next year and do it again but I’ll make sure I have my full Gortex and thermals with me for the ride to the start !!

I then took a couple of days to get some good downhill training in the mountains before the next few races. I headed to Verbier to visit the guys at Bike Verbier and had a fantastic 2 days of riding from 9am till 9pm!! It was awesome, such good training for my arms and some breathtaking views and trails along the way.

It’s now home and off to the National Championships this weekend at Bala in North Wales.