ROOS’ MEGAVALANCHE
In January, I signed up for one of the most renowned downhill/enduro races in the world: the Megavalanche! It’s been a bucket list item for me, something I absolutely wanted to experience. Unfortunately, my physical preparation was less than ideal due to ongoing home renovations, leaving with limited time to train. However, I managed to participate in a mini mass-start race in the Jura region of France in April, which gave me a bit of relevant experience.
The Megavalanche starts at the top of a glacier, and the goal is to descend as quickly as possible to the valley below. It sounds simple, but I knew it was going to be a grueling challenge. Despite the nerves, I was excited and ready for the adventure.
We left on Saturday evening, slept overnight, and arrived in the beautiful Alpe d'Huez by early Sunday evening. We explored the village and enjoyed a drink at a local bar, soaking in the atmosphere.
My Bike Setup
I ride a Santa Cruz Megatower, fully equipped with Hope components and Extremeshox suspension. My wheels, custom-made by The Wheel Stuff (the best in Belgium), are paired with Schwalbe tires—a Magic Mary up front and a Tacky Chan at the rear. This setup was ready to take on the challenge.
Pre-Race Preparations
Monday and Tuesday were spent exploring the trails around the area and riding most of the qualification track. The glacier was closed until Wednesday because there was too much snow, which only added to my anxiety.
On Wednesday, we explored the Megavalanche track, riding in the snow for the first time. We started early at 7:30 AM to get a head start on the snow, which was in surprisingly good condition except for one tricky steep section. The track was challenging with many climbs and flat sections but also featured a beautiful singletrack descent.
Luckily I had some good support of my friends for finding the perfect lines. In our group we have a specialist Olivier Bruwiere who came 3rd at this week’s Mega, so I got the best tips how to ride in the snow etc.
The qualification track, especially the top section, was challenging as it was hard to find a good line. Wednesday afternoon featured a dual slalom race. Unfortunately, only three women participated, and I finished third in the qualification run, just 0.19 seconds behind the second-place rider. Disappointingly, only the top two women were allowed to race the final run, so I didn't get another chance to compete.
Thursday was another day of practice, riding both the Megavalanche and the full qualification track. The snow on the qualification track felt better this time, giving me confidence. The snow on the Megavalanche track, however, was slipperier due to more tracks being laid down as we started later. Despite this, everything else went well, and I finalized my line choices.
Thursday afternoon featured the no-chain race, where I surprisingly took first place. It was my first time racing without a chain, and it was a lot of fun!
Let’s race now!
Friday was the qualification day, and I was more stressed than ever. Starting from a prime position with number 17, I had a great start, reaching the first corner in fourth place. The track began with some loose gravel turns, followed by a few snowy sections where I struggled a bit, losing some positions. Unfortunately, during the main downhill section, I was stuck behind a slower rider, which hindered my progress. The track ended with a short sprint and a slightly uphill flat section, not my strong suit, where I lost another position. I managed to finish just after two others so we crossed the line in the same second, I qualified 13th. I had hoped for a top 10 finish but ended up starting in the second row for the main event.
Saturday, the main race day, brought bad weather. The organizers decided it was too dangerous to start on the glacier, so we began on the qualification track and continued to Allemond, covering the final part of the Megavalanche route. The start was cold and windy, with rain adding to the challenge. Despite the conditions, I had a good start, finding a better line on the snow than during qualification, which paid off. The course featured a mix of flat sections, challenging climbs, and long downhills. Just before the big climb I was standing in 6th position.
The downhill after the long climb started to be very slippery due to the fallen rain. I crashed pretty hard, hitting my head and shoulder. I took a deep breath to assess my condition, I decided to continue but at a slower pace. I overtook many e-bikers who had started 15 minutes earlier, which sometimes forced me to wait as they struggled on the course. Still had a good battle at the end where another girl overtook me during the last climb. I finished the big race exhausted but satisfied.
To my surprise, I ended up 12th overall and 3rd in the elite women's category! The crash had cost me a potential top 10 finish, but I was thrilled with my performance. The days following the race, I felt a bit off, probably from a mild concussion but I was otherwise fine.
While I missed the full glacier experience, I’m motivated to return and complete the entire Megavalanche. As someone told me, "You're not a true mountain biker until you've ridden the full Megavalanche." So, I think I need to go back for the full adventure!
Words & Photos: Roos Op de Beeck