[Closed] Mega avalanche qualification times

Variable!

Last year and one before it same time varied by 30 places depending on quali.

Think it's about top 35 in Mega then in 35 lots from there.

Roughly Sub 30min for a chance of mega
sub 40 for next one
prob sub 45 for last mass start

though it all depends who and what happens. Also unless you were offered a front row place practice times are fairly meaningless as the chance of a clean run is slim - saying that I was clear from the ladders last year as there was a pile up after me and I just went for it and got 2nd race.

It doesn't vary much from the fastest qualifier time to the slowest to get into the main race.

Last year the quali winning times was around 21.30 & the slowest to qualify for the main event was ~25.30.

You need to be well under 30 mins to make the next down race based on last years results.

Top 35 go through, I was 15th or 18th (can't remember) with a time around 23.30. Started on the 4th row, so had fair a bit of overtaking to do, but it can be done. I know someone (pretty fast DH rider) who was on the last row of his quali & he came 10th.

The key is to wring yourself out for the first 5 or so minutes down the fire road, over the flat lunar section & all the way down to the top of the DMC lift where it turns into a proper track as that's the only time you are going to overtake big numbers of people, after that, it's just picking off individual people mostly.

Thanks mike.

That helps. Just did the run yesterday and was down in about 28 or so and was cruising on the flat. I know the race will be very different and luck will play a BIG part but nice to know that a goal of 1st or 2nd race is not pie in the sky

2nd was fine with knackered finger and stinking head cold so with luck and a good start it's not too bad.

As Hob Nob said the start is key, once you hit the singletrack it's limited passing. get up there and have a look at some corner cuts (within the tapes) as there are lots of choke points. If you can get round bunch or crash there it save time and makes places. Also the section parallel to the road at the lower lift station was doable going round the stupid double/tables keeping flat out all the way (saddle up by then)

At the ladders in the top there is a straight line through the corners above there that can either work or end in T-bone.

Thanks both

Yes did think that the blue road side section would be faster just pedalling like heck rather than jumping

Hob Nob - that is fast.

Guy in bike shop told me there wa a lot less snow last year (big chunks of the initial fire road are still covered this week) but still - fair play indeed 🙂

Hopefully find out what row I start from soon. Mate has confessed that he 'manufactured' a few results when he enetered to boost his start point. I wish I had thought of that. Fear I may be nearer the back than the front 🙁

It is faster to go round the jumps - especially the last 'quad' one. Shame, if they built the jumps properly you could hit them at a decent speed.

There was very little snow last year, other than the usual 2 little patches on the flat lunar bit there was nothing, again very little on the main race too.

I think most people bend the truth a bit on entries, the apartment block we stayed in last year could have housed 50+ Steve Peat's by what they put on the entries. I think it's mostly pot luck, unless you have a race licence & a national ranking - get sharpening your elbows & practising a few sprints!

I think there might be a few more big names there this year, it's the week before a World Cup that's not far away so should make it more fun.

LOL Cheers Hob Nob.

Will get a few more runs in over ethe next few days then my family go home and the mates arrive. Should be a great few days riding regardless.

Will be very happy to make the 2nd race and delighted to make the top event.

Will be very happy to make the 2nd race and delighted to make the top event.

Best attitude to have, other good pick me up is that missing 1 race by a place means front row in the other one!

Stay chilled, don't over practice and make sure you make your lift times!

It is faster to go round the jumps - especially the last 'quad' one. Shame, if they built the jumps properly you could hit them at a decent speed.

I did hit them at a decent speed in practice - nearly had to nip out early for new shorts!

We get there late Sunday afternoon, so looking forward to it now 🙂

Really enjoy the middle section of the qualifier track on a trail bike too, its great fun. As we're off to Morzine after the DH bikes are coming too so I won't be able to resist some runs of the DH track down to Oz as well.

Aiming for the main event again (bar reasons out of my control) would like a top 10 this year as i'm fitter & quicker so it's something to go for.

See you all on the hill!

I'm not out till Wednesday and am quietly crapping myself. It's my first year and I have no idea what to expect/aim for.

andeh - aim to have fun!

See too many getting madly frustrated over stuff, it's a holiday 🙂

Also the number in casts shows it's also a good result getting home without stupidly injuring yourself

Hob Nob - keep us posted on how you do. Rooting for you :-). Maybe we will do a STW results thread in a weeks time 🙂

andeh - The first proper singletrack on the qualifier is pretty hard but not stupidly so (It is officially a black DH run). It is basically relentless for about 5 mins. My guess is that for this section most folks would be faster on a DH bike. For the rest a trail bike is perfect and a DH bike would be a disadvantage, which should give you a slight sense of what to expect? Nowhere on the qualifier requires mandatory air though lots of opportunity if you so desire.

Good advice from Mike there. Ultimately it is just a bike ride so aim to enjoy first and foremost 🙂

My guess is that for this section most folks would be faster on a DH bike

even the guys from our Chalet who was top 20 at that point said it was no advantage as he was in a train by then. If your more than 50 down by then the DH bike wont help!!

No loss for trail bike if you can handle it right 😉

Dave from our chalet last year

Fun was ultimately my aim, but once that europop starts pumping, who knows what will happen. As it's my first year i elected to ride a semi-dh bike (Turner highline) which should let me get away with a bit more. I have no problem riding technical trails, or leaving the floor, so the track doesn't worry me that much, it's the 400 other people that do 🙂

I'm hoping my healthy hardtail pedigree will see me through nicely. 8)

Andeh - just go & have fun, last year was my first too.

I was lucky in people we went with had done it before & know how quick/slow I was in relation to them so I had an idea what to expect, but until you are there & doing it, just give it your best shot & have some fun. It's certainly an experience.

Results post is a good idea! I'm not beating myself up for a result, there are too many factors out of my control for that - just want to do the best I can.

Regarding the track - that middle section is fairly flat for a DH bike, I don't think I would be quicker overall on it, I think the only section I would benefit would be the few corners before and the northshore section (if you were far enough in front to have a clear run) as you could just monster truck the whole section off the brakes, rather than picking a line. The rest I think would hurt trying to carry speed.

andeh - Member
I'm not out till Wednesday and am quietly crapping myself. It's my first year and I have no idea what to expect/aim for.

Me too. 🙂

I'm another Mega virgin. Arriving Tuesday.
Group of 6 of us. The other 5 have done the event before so I'll be happy if I'm better than last within that group!
It'll be the first time I've ridden in a full face helmet and thb I'm more worried that I'll likely drown in my own sweat!

At least 3 of us are on the forum so we'll watch out for post-mortem discussion thread. (unfortunate choice of phrase perhaps!)

just go and shred!!! This is me and zulu off. Im in the purple shorts.

Cant wait to get there. leaving sunday morning !!

Certainly not recommending a DH bike and agree ulimately unless you are Remy or Jerome or equivalent you will be in a train in all likelihood.

Very excited 😀

Looks like I am on 2nd row of race 6.

Oh well one less excuse 🙂

Looks like I am on 2nd row of race 6.

I was 2nd row last year, some lad with a commencal in front, looked a right dick with a Absalon replica top and everything, didn't see much of him after the tape went up (apparently he gapped some of the apex's on the first section. I was 2/3 of the way down the switchbacks as he was on the moonscape....

Taz - How do I find out where I will be gridded? Saw a link on an email from the organisers but it didn't work?

I was wondering the same The entry list I found didn't have race numbers on. 😕

I found it!

[url= http://www.megavalanche.com/menu.php?rubrique=101&course=1&nom_rubrique=ALPE%20D%27HUEZ&sousrubrique=LISTE%20DES%20NUMEROS ]Megavalanche list of numbers 2012[/url]

The link to a pdf is at the bottom of the page. I assume its 25 riders per row?

Nice one. I'm sure that wasn't there the other day when I looked.

Looks like I'm on the 4th row, heat 8, which isn't too bad. Same heat as Fabien Barel 😀

Looks like I'm on the 4th row, heat 8, which isn't too bad. Same heat as Fabien Barel

Me too! I don't think I'm going to beat him:

Broke my thumb in practice 🙁 No more riding for a while.

Thanks to some of the tips in this thread managed to get down in half an hour and just make it into the 2nd race which I was more than happy with. The video came out pretty good too, particularly a big stack at 20 minutes in:

Good effort! That sneaky line off to the left on the moonscape bit gains you loads of places I reckon. 🙂

Makes note to self - DrP must do this race at some point!

Looks awesome!

DrP

Well, I had an entertaining week. I had a huge crash with Sven Martin on Tuesday, resulting in a concussion for him with no memory of what happened & a busted up set of ribs for me. Hardly ideal!

Anyway - I was in the first wave down in my qualifier, started on the 4th row. I went a bit nuts on the painkillers first thing to try and make it bearable (didn't really work). However I still managed to qualify 20th (24 minutes something). Annoying really, as I wanted a top 10 so I would be on one of the first 3 rows for the main race Sunday morning, rather than mid pack. Looking at my video, I was in so much pain on the fire road up the top I let 6 or 7 guys pass me because I couldn't breath properly to go fast enough 🙁

Sunday morning race day was cool though, no pressure as I was just there for fun by now. Was having a good race, I was neck & neck all the way down with a guy who was in my quali who ended 78th with a 51min run, until I flatted just before the woods. Ended up about 200th on an hour dead. All things considered, not bad.

Video of the quali here:

I had a bit of a mare.

For qualification, despite setting off with a good 2 hours to spare, we ended up running to the start line as our heat reached the first corner. The lifts were a right farce, why they can't run lift times like for the actual race I don't know.
Anyway, I had loads of catching up to do, what with starting dead last, and managed to claw my way back to 78th at just under 30 mins.....which was ok considering the circumstances. I got stuck behind loads of folks, which is, it seems, the most frustrating thing on the planet.

For the main race I managed to fall about 6 times on the snow leaving me trailing with all the mincers for the singletrack. It's infuriating getting stuck in 20 people traffic jams for a 6 inch drop. Again, I clawed my way back and finished around the 1hour 20 mark, which I'm not really happy with but whatever. It was amazing fun anyway and I'll definitely be coming back another year.

The quali track was ace! Really good fun from top to bottom. I have learnt lots and will be applying it to my next attempt...mainly involving setting off the night before for the quali runs :/

My chain broke on the qualifier, whilst pedalling out of the stream crossing. I carried on chainless and pumped every bump for speed. 34.5mins and 122nd for the 1st Affinity. Noticed quite a few other maulled drivetrains, so something to R and D for next year I think.

Yeah the lift queue for quali needs time slots like the main race. I only just made my time because I went with friends who had a heat an hour before mine

That's a great time hob nob. I broke my derailleur cable in the main event so did a lot of walking and just cruised down at the back in 1hr 45. Definitely a time to better next year!

Hi guys

Had a mare also. Got a dream start and was in the top ten or so by corner 3 on the fire road. Went to put a few pedal Strokes in to discover a missing chain and a mangled mech :-(. I ran the qualifier flat section but finally gave up when I realised I was about to get amongst the fast guys from the next round and I feared sending one of them flying

Really enjoyed the affinity with a few mates. It is such a fun route.

Mate did the amateur. He finished in 1hr 23m. His recorded time is 2hr 2mins??????? Anyone else have similar issues?

Agree the lifts for the qualifier really need sorting. We got there in good time but only because we left early to see 3 mates in heat 2. They just made it after pushing in ahead of the 1000+ numbers at the front of the queue.

Likely I will be back next year. Fear I may have missed taking advantage of the best start I could have hoped for 🙁

Last year I was translating the big numbers for the woman trying to Order the Queue (not something that comes naturally to the French) She was calling forward only those that were going to miss out.

First year I was there we just pushed on up when we got twitchy, anyone with a higher number was elbowed back.

If I do it again I will be at the lift early again and just move along with the queue before making a late run for the lift.

They should do a similar system to the main race at the Vaujany lift station.

I was lucky as it was first wave, so the queues were ok, but nevertheless, there were people there with 1000+ numberboards at 9am (and a lot of them) all trying to get on the lift.

If people were given set times it wouldn't be an issue. Even at 9am there was a lot of pushing past people.

Anyone know of any other timing issues, either this year or in the past?

Looks like his time includes his original scan time to the actual race start which was around 40 mins. He arrived at 9.50 ish and the start was delayed until 10.30. If you add those to the ride time it is pretty close to his 'official' time.

He is querying it but as a sole voice he is unlikely to have any luck. We saw him in so know he did not have a 2hr plus run and definitely was not 2nd last finished.

He finished just behind no 82 ( he remembers him passing him right at the end) so knows he was 1hr 23 47s. However it is
annoying when they get this stuff wrong TBH. Said I would check with the STW participants

82 was my mate Steve.

Could Steve confirm that he passed rider 284 just before the end 🙂

He filmed the race so it should be on his video. I'll point him in the direction of this thread.

Top man Simon - thanks

Number 82 reporting in. Let me check the video tonight and I'll post up when I have.

Great Mr Frostie. My mate will be delighted if you could prove him out

Many thanks

Bit geeky but using the quali results I had a look at the chances of qualifying for each race depending on your starting row. If you're on the 4th row or back your odds are only about 1 in 10 of making the main race, but even the front row guys still have a 25% chance of ending up in Affinity

[img] [/img]

[url= https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Al328QoFbPXddGMwX3pqc3RJMUpzZXZ3S1ZRRFFKTHc ]Google Doc Link[/url]

Wow, interesting stuff! I was very conscious being on the 4th row that being on the outside edge was key to clearing as many people as possible & avoiding the usual pile up on the inside corner of the start.

Interestingly I noticed my time that put me in 20th in the wave I was in, was the worst possible result I could have had, in most heats it would have put me in ~15th place right up to 12th in one.

Still, you can't pick your race & do the best you can 🙂

That is very interesting. Another mate had a front row position and basically was affinity 2.

He had 8 chain offs (knackerd chain guide) but we tend to forget that when mocking him 😈

OK. I clattered into 284 at around 1.09 when I tried a shortcut round the berms and I ended up T-boning him. After that he seemed to get away from me a bit but I can't find a bit where I got past him later.
I've edited the clip from 1.09 onwards but its taking an age to upload to Vimeo. Might be easier to just shove it on a memory stick and post it to him ?

[img] [/img]

Big thanks Steve

Apparently you past him right at the end of the fire road along by the river. It stuck in his mind as it was such a late pass 🙂

If easier you can send the memory stick to me as mate is still in France

I will drop you an e-mail

Cheers

Hmm how late ? Just watched the bit right after the bridge over the river and I got passed by 3 riders on that short towpath bit between the bridge and the left hander into the finish area. Don't think I passed anyone on that section.

lol at the quali time graph:):)

Back to my first post, it's all a bit random.

2 years running we stood round in town looking at the other qualis wondering why we ended up in the super fast one

Mate phoned the timing guys last night, apaprently, and they have confirmed they made an error so will be reposting his time

Big thanks for the help Steve. Maybe by the end he was hullucinating about a guy that T boned him earlier 🙂

Thinking about the qualification lines. Given the seeding it is probably a bit misleading how many row 1 & 2 guys make the cut. The seeded guys should by definition be more likley to get to the big race

Awsome thread... if only i were 50X more skilled than i am on a bike !!!

Thinking about the qualification lines. Given the seeding it is probably a bit misleading how many row 1 & 2 guys make the cut. The seeded guys should by definition be more likley to get to the big race

exactly. the front rows (in fact i *think* all the rows) are determined by that 'previous results' bit in the entry form.

so it's not a 1 in 10 chance vs a 25% 'chance' more that the faster lads are already at the front...

Steve77 - Member

Bit geeky but using the quali results I had a look at the chances of qualifying for each race depending on your starting row. If you're on the 4th row or back your odds are only about 1 in 10 of making the main race, but even the front row guys still have a 25% chance of ending up in Affinity

Bit misleading that - the qualifiers are seeded, Pros are put on the first row

Hob Nob - Member
They should do a similar system to the main race at the Vaujany lift station.

I was lucky as it was first wave, so the queues were ok, but nevertheless, there were people there with 1000+ numberboards at 9am (and a lot of them) all trying to get on the lift.

If people were given set times it wouldn't be an issue. Even at 9am there was a lot of pushing past people.

last year despite being at the lift at my allotted time i didnt get up to the top for my main race was very annoyed as i basically had to just pile on at the back, it did mean i had the satisfaction of passing loads of people but still very frustrating

exactly. the front rows (in fact i *think* all the rows) are determined by that 'previous results' bit in the entry form.

See, they say that, but in reality it's not.

Last year (my first Mega) I was a third row quali starter, despite me putting down nothing in the box apart from my race number. I qualified 18th in my heat & was about 220th in the main race.

This year I filled it out, national ranking, previous Mega quali result, key race results (DH wins & podiums) yet I was nearly 40 places down on 2011. There were people on the front row I know (and race against who I have regulary beaten).

I think, other than the top 5, or maybe 10 - it's pot luck where you end up. One guy in my quali I know from racing Nationals, he entered the day it went live, is a Senior who consistently podiums at Nationals for the last few years, and came in the top 50 of the main Mega race last year - he was on the last row of our quali.

They don't bother to seed all the rows, or even all of the front row - but they do put the very top guys up front.

Other than that, you can email and ask to be put in beside your mates and they'll usually do it for you.

OK here's my sobstory:

Started quali on middle of very back row 😥
My only real objective was to get into a mass start.
Battled through a good chunk of the field and managed a time of 33 mins but that put me 112th so it was AF1 for me 🙁

I started on the 7th row, had soo much fun barging through the masses and some of the passing on the singletrack was scary/amazing.

I gathered from a number of other riders the sooner you got your entry in the closer to row 2 you were. 2 of out group were on the trigger on the opening day and got row 2, i entered a month or so after.

Anyhow, made the final. I might even put my entry in late next year just to fight my way from the back again!

Dirt put a video out today of the final, the pile up at the first corner was just mayhem. http://mpora.com/videos/d85nnndv2i

Here's my quali run, group 8....enjoy!
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