45°5′43″N 6°4′13″E / 45.09528°N 6.07028°E[1]
 Alpe d'Huez and Le Bourg-d'Oisans from Pic Blanc, the start of the Mega Avalanche | |
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Region | French Alps and Réunion |
| Nickname(s) | Mega |
| Discipline | Mountain-biking, downhill |
| Type | Two-day, mass-start |
| Organiser | UCC |
| Race director | George Edwards |
| Web site | www |
| History | |
| Editions | 27 (as of 2023) |
| Most wins |  Rémy Absalon (FRA) |
| Most recent | Hugo Pigeon (FRA) |
Megavalanche (nicknamed "Mega") is a enduro mountain bike race held annually at the Alpe d'Huez ski resort in the French Alps since 1995, and annually on the island of Réunion.
The Alps event, being the more widely publicized and famous among downhill cycling enthusiasts, starts on the glaciated summit of Pic Blanc in Huez and descends to the valley bottom at Allemond, for a total of over 2,600 vertical meters (8530 feet) and a 20 km (12 miles) distance.
The mass-start race is known for its fast speeds and winding turns over varying terrain, with hundreds of riders descending the mountain at once. Famously, racers are allowed to progress down the mountain by any reasonable means, and riders often cut corners and walk their bikes for extended periods of time. Many other enduro races have similarly lenient course guidelines. Despite the inherent dangers, officials state that injuries are modest, and that the race is less dangerous than it may seem to outsiders. The course is designed to slow the riders down around tight curves and the width of the glacier at the race's start line allows the riders to spread out.[2]
