Mega Avalance...who is keen?

[_Daemon_]

Who is keen to go? We enter a SA team, should be loads of fun!!

 

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The Mega Avalanche is an annual downhill cycling event that starts at the 3320m high ski station Pic Blanc, above the alpine towns of Alpe d'Huez (1850m) and Le Bourg-d'Oisans

(701m) and finishes at Allemont (720m). It is an event that any cyclist

can enter and usually takes place in July. It begins in snow and

travels across a glacier to a black run which takes the riders down to

Allemont. It has been featured in the British mountain biking magazine MBUK

and a picture of the event has been used for the cover of one of the

issues. It is one of the longest downhill races in the world travelling

down 33km (20 miles) of mostly black run downhill. To compete in the

Mega Avalanche, competitors must have a full-face bicycle helmet, suitable for downhill cycling,

and suitable downhill body armour to protect them from any impacts they

may receive from falling off. To qualify for the main event the

competitors must first complete the 15km (9 mile) qualifying course

after which if they finish in the allocated time and position they will

be allocated a place on the starting grid for the race. It begins with

a mass start

(all of the competitors begin at once), which often results in many of

the competitors falling over due to sliding into each other because of

snow. The route is open to cyclists all summer and can be reached by a

short trip in two cable cars from Alpe d'Huez, however this route is

only usually attempted by experienced riders. Alpe d'Huez

also has a number of other routes from that altitude and others at

lower altitudes including a built up downhill track, specifically

tailored for downhill cycling with a freeride park (a series of ramps and jumps for bikes). The 2008 Mega Avalanche takes place between the 7th and the 13th of July.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Avalanche

 

http://www.avalanchecup.com/megavalanche-alpe-dhuez-38-news.html

 

 

http://flickr.com/photos/hairy_matt/sets/72157606159601016/

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2667456109_325ca652ae.jpgv=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2667453579_099c154d2c.jpgv=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2668277420_556b2df265.jpgv=0

 

[Nuffy]

Oooh, I would love to go. It'll take some graft to get together the money, though. Do you think we'd manage sponsorship? Oh yeah, and I'm actually a Zimbo, so wouldn't be representing SA.

[mbaymike]

I thought the Mega Avalanche is some new ice cream

[TNT1]

... and all the photo's are "currently unavailable"....

[Sean Badenhorst]

 

... and all the photo's are "currently unavailable"....

]

 

I can see them. The first two are close-up shots of the snow and the third one is a close-up of a very low cloud.

 

[Kranswurm]

I have that copy of MBUK.

Brilliant article.Although I would say unless you are a pretty good d/hiller you are going to come a cropper.33km........you will be stuffed if you manage to hang on and not dissapear over the edge or head butt a rock.

The first part is on a glacier.Desperate stuff.

[Dirtbreath]

There's a guy in yellow booties training for the MA on the Spruit.