Megavalanche 2020
- Thread starter Letford
- Start date
Hi Mate,
We did the same last year. There are a few good campsites in Allemond where the race ends. Dirt cheap and good facilities etc. A weeks camping with power hook-up was about 120 quid. I wouldn't do that again, only because it was a faff getting up the hill every day. It's offseason and there is plenty of cheap accommodation available in the main hub. The main good thing about being in Allemond everyday is that you ride the section from Oz to Allemond a few times which most people don't bother doing simply as its a pain getting back up to Oz to get the gondola back up and the lifts shut around 5pm.
You need to get a Bus up to Oz from Allemond in the morning which is the first gondola up to Alpe D'Huez and then you get others up to Quali and The Race starts. It's an absolute free for all in the morning to get up to Oz and about a 45min very steep pedal up if you don't want to do that. The lift pass is good for all week and there's plenty of other riding there. Be sure to do the Oz Enduro, we missed that and it looked sick. Your entry gives you entry to that and the chainless race.
Night before the race we camped in Alpe D'Huez itself (boondocked) to make sure we got the lift in time at 6am..eBike race starts first and if you miss your lift slot, you don't race! I think you may get away with it for boondocking longer but it is technically not allowed. I didn't look for campsites in Alpe D'Huez, there is one there but it's apparently invite-only/for Pro's. After the race we took the bus to Oz and got the lift back up to Alpe D'Huez to get the van. The queue wasn't too bad as the eBike race finishes earlier than the main race. Forget about queuing in any kind of order for the bus, the French simply ignore any Britishisms and bikes literally get thrown in and damaged..
Day of the race take plenty of warm clothing to the top, it's freezing and you have to wait for about 3 hours. They bring your jacket down to Alpe D'Huez race control for you. We only found this out at 5am thanks to someone riding past saying 'where are your jackets??!!' It's literally all four seasons of weather on the way down..
Make sure you read the pamphlet they give you at registration, there's very little info on the internet about anything so it's very much finding out as you go!
Take plenty of spares. Obvious I know but it's pretty rough on your bike. I would also get insurance. 2 people we saw first hand getting airlifted off the mountain. It's more dramatic than it sounds. We weren't sure if the extra insurance they offer covered this. They don't walk you down the mountain if you can't walk etc, the fastest way is by helicopter.
You barely use any battery, like one bar, as it's almost all gravity fed.
It's an awesome experience and I'll be doing it again next year so hit me up when your getting a plan together
We did the same last year. There are a few good campsites in Allemond where the race ends. Dirt cheap and good facilities etc. A weeks camping with power hook-up was about 120 quid. I wouldn't do that again, only because it was a faff getting up the hill every day. It's offseason and there is plenty of cheap accommodation available in the main hub. The main good thing about being in Allemond everyday is that you ride the section from Oz to Allemond a few times which most people don't bother doing simply as its a pain getting back up to Oz to get the gondola back up and the lifts shut around 5pm.
You need to get a Bus up to Oz from Allemond in the morning which is the first gondola up to Alpe D'Huez and then you get others up to Quali and The Race starts. It's an absolute free for all in the morning to get up to Oz and about a 45min very steep pedal up if you don't want to do that. The lift pass is good for all week and there's plenty of other riding there. Be sure to do the Oz Enduro, we missed that and it looked sick. Your entry gives you entry to that and the chainless race.
Night before the race we camped in Alpe D'Huez itself (boondocked) to make sure we got the lift in time at 6am..eBike race starts first and if you miss your lift slot, you don't race! I think you may get away with it for boondocking longer but it is technically not allowed. I didn't look for campsites in Alpe D'Huez, there is one there but it's apparently invite-only/for Pro's. After the race we took the bus to Oz and got the lift back up to Alpe D'Huez to get the van. The queue wasn't too bad as the eBike race finishes earlier than the main race. Forget about queuing in any kind of order for the bus, the French simply ignore any Britishisms and bikes literally get thrown in and damaged..
Day of the race take plenty of warm clothing to the top, it's freezing and you have to wait for about 3 hours. They bring your jacket down to Alpe D'Huez race control for you. We only found this out at 5am thanks to someone riding past saying 'where are your jackets??!!' It's literally all four seasons of weather on the way down..
Make sure you read the pamphlet they give you at registration, there's very little info on the internet about anything so it's very much finding out as you go!
Take plenty of spares. Obvious I know but it's pretty rough on your bike. I would also get insurance. 2 people we saw first hand getting airlifted off the mountain. It's more dramatic than it sounds. We weren't sure if the extra insurance they offer covered this. They don't walk you down the mountain if you can't walk etc, the fastest way is by helicopter.
You barely use any battery, like one bar, as it's almost all gravity fed.
It's an awesome experience and I'll be doing it again next year so hit me up when your getting a plan together
@TheBikePilot - You could offer yourself as their guide. They could use your coast to coast footage, to get an idea of what they are in for.. 
@TheBikePilot - You could offer yourself as their guide. They could use your coast to coast footage, to get an idea of what they are in for..
It does sound like a nice little ride .... I could do my first and last youtube video all wrapped up together "Zimmer does Death".
When is it, I'll have to consult my predicted fractures and healing spreadsheet.
- Thread starter
- #7
@TheBikePilot That's alot of great Information there, really appreciate it thanks!
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