The best of the Riders have met in the Island of La Réunion, in the heart of the Indian Ocean, for the 17th edition of the Megavalanche.

Even if the elements raged, the fire: Some criminal burns which destroyed several areas concerned by the path of the race; and the water: Heavy rains drenching down during the training sessions, all actors agree to a higher and higher positive balance sheet after this great classical in La Réunion.
For the classical it was, the Megavalanche has innovated for its Qualifying race, as it was the new formula of Enduro, which was going to serve as a standard for positions on the starting lines, and for the level groups.

The Enduro, copied on the « motorized rally » or « Enduro in motorbike », was going to give, about 400 Riders, a course which linked up the forest of Tamarin, located just underneath Maïdo, with splendid golf domain of Bassin Bleu, dominating the famous lagoon of St Gilles.
These Qualifying race allow to establish a classification in comparison with the cumul of time acquired on the 3 Special timing. As in Downhill Marathon, the versatility of the rivals is the main requested quality
for performance.

The general classification of this first Enduro Megavalanche was going to be very representative of the eclecticism to be applied to this type of race: Julien Absalon (Orbea), gold medal of Olympic Cross country running, takes it in front of François Bailly-Maître (SCOTT LES SAISIES), also evolving in this discipline but on Marathon formats and double winner of the terrible Transvésubienne, Remy Absalon (Commencal), considered of the best worldwide specialist of Enduro, took the 3rd place, closely followed by the talented downhill racer, Champion of France, Aurélien Giordanengo (MONDRAKER FACTORY TEAM), himself just ahead of the highly experienced, and neo-animator of World Cup, Karim Amour (KONA).
The swording of positions held by these international riders, expressing himself for each in a different speciality, proved to be, if it was need, that Enduro is really the most complete mode of expression for MTB discipline VTT.

Behind these 5 first, about 400 other racers found their place, having appreciated intensely the courses of link giving splendid landscapes, and especially mode of running or pros and
amateurs mix in any friendliness.

This first day ended in beauty in a sunset which only the southern hemisphere can make this demonstration, and in the rather cool and comfortable ambience in the swimming pool and the lawns of the Club House of Bassin Bleu.
The 100 first were therefore going to meet, on Sunday morning, on the starting line of Megavalanche Internationale, the 250 following for Mega Challenger, and the following for Mega Amateur.


Because of the angry fires which had made actuality these last weeks, the famous departure at the edge of the Remparts of the Circus of Mafate was inaccessible to an event of the largeness as the Megavalanche.
So, the Organizing Committee, in agreement with prefectural services, the forested administrators and fire safety, had established the starting line on the track Omega, depriving the participants of this 17th edition of fantastic lane of " Remparts du Maido » whose configuration is consequently calibrated especially for
rolling in MTB.
Shortened of about 300m of vertical negative, this technical part which, beyond the pleasure it brings on sports plan, allows to stretch platoons greatly before the fateful entrance on Single Track in
area Jungle.

Forecasts proved to be hazardous to guess who, crosseurs mighties, or enduristes, or sprinters that are the downhill racers, were going to leave at the head on this track Omega, devoid of technical passages.
It is however the brothers ABSALON with François Bailly-Maître, who was going to miss the podium because of breakage of its chain in the two thirds of the race after a kilometer of sprint in 7 or 10 head-on on a gravel track which puts in chains big curves and small scoops of acceleration.

The entrance of the track Louis Emile, in the plant space, was a big instant of pitched battle. Karim AMOUR, René WILDHABER (TREK RED BULL), Franck PAROLIN (GIANT - VERTICAL BIKE) and Gustav WILDHABER (ZABOO / PROTEAM RAIFFEISEN) managed to climb out to chain obstacles of all sort, on this particularly humid area, which were displayed under their wheels.

The first 15 minutes impose a tension on the riders to make forehead in the attacks of the pursuers.
While the race leaders enchain sector, short prairie fringed with cryptomeria, in lieu of trees in this latitude, the differences become easier to appreciate and it's time to put up to keep a little reserve before the terrible trail of rocks, true chaos of lava rock, completing the machines as much as bodies.

The Swiss René WILDHABER, seven times winner of the Megavalanche of Alpe d'Huez, manages to overcome Karim AMOUR this time and Franck PAROLIN must bow to its namesake Gustav WILDHABER.

Very good performance of Reunion, Alexandre SICARD (TEAM JULBO SPECIALIZED), which will remain in 7th place, finishing ahead of big names such as Jordan REGNIER (CANNONDALE / AMSL FREJUS), 8th, Olivier GIORDANENGO (TRIBE SPORT GROUP YETI), 9th.

Upon arrival of the historic Moulin Haut, the cradle of Reunion Island, the two brothers ABSALON choose to cross the line together, having led the race in turn according to their extraordinary physical ability and technical.

For the Ladies Group, it was expected, Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON (IBIS), gold medalist of the Beijing Olympics, won ahead the Swiss Karina CAPPELLARI and the French girl, who won the Europ Cup Maxiavalanche, Morgane SUCH (TEAM MASSILIA BIKE SYSTEM).

For its 17th edition, the famous Megavalanche of St. Paul, on Ile de la Réunion, is innovative in its competition with the introduction of an Enduro instead of the traditional qualifying-positioning races on Saturday.

The 2011 edition will take place on this November, the 26th and 27th, and the Organizing Committee, with all partners VTT in the Island, are busy from several weeks to present the top international race in the Indian Ocean.

Prestigious runners, with the presence of two Olympic medalists, Julien ABSALON (ORBEA) and Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON (IBIS), effectives riders on Marathon Enduro Downhill, Rene WILDHABER (TREK RED BULL), Florian GOLAY (CROSSROAD CYCLES-FELT) and Remy ABSALON (COMMENCAL), and many challengers included in the Top Ten of this specialty.

The Megavalanche be held on the same pattern as the 2010 edition, in conjunction with the national park and forest managers, from the upper parking of Maïdo to Savannah. Again, the expected 400 participants will be welcomed into decorum, worthy of the reputation of the Megavalanche, as the city of St. Paul and the district of la Perrière will make every effort to install the final section in the small park of the "Watermill ".

For remember, the Megavalanche is a competition pro and amateur. Any candidate duly registered, provided with the equipment (integral helmet, long gloves and elbow length), capable of driving a new generation of mountain bike (preferably full suspension), may participate in the first instance, the Enduro Qualification on Saturday to be positioned, according to its classification as a group level, for Great Megavalanche on Sunday.
Three groups: the top 100, Megavalanche International Group, the following 120, Mega Challengers, and the others, Mega Amateurs. There is always a classification and an awards ceremony for each group.

To speak of this new qualifying event on Saturday (the Enduro Megavalanche), must be aware of the enormous potential of the region in relation to this race.
Indeed, the development of Enduro in Metropolitan and in Europe, has revitalized the practice through the mountain biking.
Practitioners need of descent due to lack of adequate facilities or tracks, the crossers, subject to a requirement increasingly involved in the field of training, and all riders attached to the original values of our discipline, find the best way to ride in mountain bike with the Enduro.
No doubt this first race will have an impact on the Ile de la Reunion, as on the continent, and a new dynamic will emerge.

The Megavalanche Enduro present a common path of connections, since the walls of the path at the Maïdo until the golf of Bassin Bleu in Villèle. This route is punctuated by four timed stages which will establish the ranking, and the spaces between these special departures must be made within a time limit, calculated on the basis of a quiet ride with friends, to give zest usability suitable for this type of race.

The Enduro course requires a certain versatility. For this preview, the riders of Ile de la Reunion and continetals, participating will receive a large credit of descent of nearly 2000 meters, but it will be also 400 meters of elevation gain, even if they are special timed out, the big bikes descent will not be the best adapted.

The Enduro at the Reunion will develop for the enjoyment of partners and practitioners. Soon, the organizations present, like the Metropole, the equivalence of heights. The courses are usually timed special configurations of descent and rather technical. Riders have access to their departure from the path of connections on which the imposed time allows for a gentle pace but still amount. The versatility of the competitors and their MTB are therefore needed to fully enjoy the pleasures provided by this specialty.

It’s therefore recommended that all future participants in this Megavalanche 2011 to register as soon as possible to enjoy the new sensations that will offer the day of qualifications and be prepared to go the famous route now ring-fenced of Great Megavalanche with its new arrival which will provide a beautiful and natural cooling in the source of "Watermill".

The renovation of the first "bike station" of Ile de la Reunion have begun the week of March 2, 2011 on the field of Golf of Bassin Bleu at Villele. A project hatched by George Edwards and Stéphane ANDRE.

2 tracks are already designed: one for the walk and the other slightly larger, decorated passages giving players and especially to places of outstanding heritage of the Ile de la Reunion.

The concept of the third track is for lovers of sensation as it will be based on achieving a Bike Park with the launch platform will be located just below the pool at the Club House to rush down to Moulin Kadher.

Specialists shaping kickers, led by the ex-starof International Circuit Slope Style Christopher HATTON work and have been specially sent from France to build what will be the first "Stadium Descente MTB" of Ile de la Réunion.

The inauguration is planned for the coming weeks and no doubt the players of the MTB, sporty, associations or institutions, will experience an upturn and it will recognize...