The Mega series moves from the snow of Alpe d'Huez to the sunshine of La Reunion
The world famous Megavalanche downhill mountain biking competition of madness that takes place every year in Alpe D'Huez takes a summer holiday every year too - with a Mega race in La Reunion. The busman's holiday means many of the best mountain bikers get to head over to this French island in the middle of Indian Ocean to race in the sun.
This year's Mega Reunion race took place this weekend and it was certainly full of thrills and spills. Race favourite Remy Absalon who won the Megavalanche in Alpe d'Huez this year had, it has to be said, a bit of a nightmare race.
Just a few hundred metres from the start gate, the French rider took a heavy landing after a jump and stone bounced up and hit the frame of his bike with some force. Suspecting a crack the rider carried on, but within a few hundred metres the carbon on the Meta 5 frame had given away and Remy was left standing there looking at a very broken bike.
This meant 'Megaman' Rene Wildhaber, the Swiss rider who has won the Megavalanche six times but was actually beaten by Absalon in Alpe d'Huez this year, rode home to victory. On the winner's podium Trek rider Wildhaber commented : "I won, but I'm gutted for Remy too - I would've preferred to battle with him for victory, but that's racing for you. The Alpe D'Huez Megavalanche race is the number one race for me, but it's a pleasure to come over to the Reunion to race and spend some holiday time."
The 2010 Megavalanche race will take place in Alpe d'Huez from the 6th to the 10th July 2010.
Source and pic : velovert.com
