One week on and the bruises have begun to fade, the bike is fixed and ready to ride again and the memory of the pain has melted away leaving only a unexplainable desire to do it all again next year!
- Lucy pleased to be finished!
I was one of three girls who live and ride in Les Arc and wanted to give the Megavalanche 2011 a try. Our one practice day (which was supposed to be a strategic plan of sessioning the more technical sections of the course) was mostly spent in the medical center or desperately trying to source a last minute rental bike.
Qualifying rolled round quickly and I was feeling sick with nerves. You can’t help but get sucked into the general sense of competition and excitement of the event. The girls qualifying race is the last to go which meant lots of hanging around. This gave us time to meet our competitors. It was refreshing to be surrounded by girls in what can only be described as a complete ‘man fest’ of an event! Women make up less than 5% of the racers yet I can not emphasis enough how friendly, supportive and fun all the girls who raced were and how removed it felt from the macho, testosterone fuelled image I had of the race.
- The girls getting ready at the start
After a disastrous qualifying race riddled with mechanicals, I was not feeling overly confident about the race. The 4.30am start and the 2 hour wait on the glacier did not help matters, although the view over the glacier as the sun came over the mountains and the racers take their places was incredible.
- View from the glacier
The final 5 minutes before the start were a blur; the cold has numbed my anticipation but as the classic euro techno-pop begins to blare out from the speakers and all the girls begin singing and jumping, the energy in the air becomes electric. Racing down through the snow and over the glacier held up to all my hopes and was utter carnage! Bikes and bodies litter the ground and it’s only a matter of time until you find yourself tangled in amongst it. I had not had a chance to ride the top section of the trail so every turn, rock and route was a new surprise. The trail begins to take its toll with the constant undulations and technical rock rolls. My Santa Cruz Butcher performed brilliantly, soaking up all the rocky stuff without any troubles but also allowing me to make the most of the climbs. As I approached the lower sections of the trail I was beginning to feel the burn. The route is fast and rough and there is nothing to do but grit your teeth. The cheering from spectators pushes you on and finally I found myself on the home stretch. With friends waiting, music blaring and a cheering crowd I crossed the finish line.
- Results sheet
The pain of the race has faded sufficiently and I am now left only with glory of the finish. I know that this was a HARD race. Physically and mentally it is a grueling course. It is long, rough and saps every last bit of energy and then asks for more. Perhaps this is why it draws people back each year. Just to see your name on the results board amongst all those thousands of other riders and knowing just what it takes to make it down is a huge sense of achievement.
Lucy Ayres
1 Hour 15 Minutes 56 Seconds
13th Position Overall
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Awesome congratulations! So good to hear about the race from a girls perspective! I reckon I'm going to train, grow some and get on the Mega case next year. Thanks for the inspiration! X
Fantastic to read!
Following a crash practising the quali track on the Tuesday, I was unable to race due to torn rotator cuff ligaments in the shoulder.
I'm now looking forward to next years race, thank you!
I'm in your photo at the top… nearly central, pink goggles on. It was my first time riding in the Alps ever, first time on a downhill course ever… MENTAL! Congrats on the great result. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, when I rode off the glacier and onto the rocks and the nerves and adrenaline and the altitude hit me, I have never been more exhausted in my life, and still with more than half to go. I got caught up by the guys race at the top of the descent into Oz and Oisans which was AWFUL; I just pulled over the to the side and let 360 guys thunder past before starting again. I need to get faster to stop that happening next time. But it was an amazing experience!
It's crazy and inspiring to hear about all you ladies tackling the Mega for the first time!
I think the GMB team are going to have to grow some for next year and get ourselves out there… Sounds like such an awesome experience to be a part of
Well done ladies!
It certainly was a blast… I loved it despite falling off in the quali race and riding the main race next day with broken ribs (as xrays showed when I'd got home) !!! I was sooo determined to finish no matter what and I did, loaded up on painkillers and with no front brake for half the course! So, basically, yes, it's mental, scary and can be a bit 'oouch' but absolutely has to be done…awesome fun! Must get body armour that fits next time though!
Wow! It is so nice to hear from so many of you, especially those who raced…its brilliant to hear how you all got on! It is definitely worth it and not nearly as scary given that all the girls were awesome fun and really supportive. I just hope more girls get out there to give it a go! It really is a great sense of achievement and not as daunting as I had thought!
If I can make it back next year i will definitely put in some training as those climbs can be a killer. Thinking of setting up a girls training camp the week before…????
happy riding!
Hi Lucy! You went past me on the climb and were so super friendly at the finish! It was wicked to meet you, I had such fun, and you're right about the fun with all the competitors at the top. it was incredible!! See you next year! I'd be well up for a girls training camp
Anna x
The idea of a training camp the week before would be awesome!
It\’d be cool to have a gang of girls to enter with to ease the nerves
Good idea Lucy, keep us posted with your updates!