Megavalanche 2026: Two Podiums for Exoride

The Megavalanche looks simple on paper and turns out to be brutal on the ground: the start is on a glacier above 3,300 metres, followed by nearly 30 kilometres of descent and 2,600 metres of vertical drop down to the valley. Snow, ice, scree fields, technical singletrack, endless flat sections. It is regularly ranked among the toughest mountain bike races in the world, and it leaves no room for specialists.

A double podium for Chris in the 2026 edition

At the 2026 edition, Chris, founder, guide and instructor at Exoride, pulled off a double: first place in the Masters category on a regular bike, and second place in the Masters e-bike category. Two races, two podiums, on the same weekend and the same course.

The result carries even more weight given the conditions on the day: fresh snow at the top, an uncertain line across the glacier, and hundreds of riders setting off together on ground where a single mistake is paid for instantly.

A race that demands everything, all at once

There is no getting through this one as a pure downhiller or a pure marathon rider. You have to handle snow and ice on the glacier, then loose rock, then technical singletrack in the forest, and still have the legs to pedal the flat sections. That accumulation is what built the reputation of the event: a complete rider is needed, from the first turn on snow to the last patch of woodland.

What racing brings to our coaching

Riding an event like this is not just about results. It feeds directly into the content of our MTB skills coaching: reading terrain in poor conditions, managing grip on snow and loose rock, saving energy on long descents, and above all staying clear-headed when fatigue sets in.

Those are exactly the skills we work on during a level 3/4 shuttle day, where one descent after another tests your riding far more than a single outing ever could.

A shared moment above all

Beyond the stopwatch, the Megavalanche remains a celebration of mountain biking: riders from all over Europe, a start-line atmosphere unlike any other, and an entire valley living to the rhythm of the race for a week.

Want to progress on this kind of terrain?

You don't need to be chasing a podium to benefit from that experience. Whether you want to feel more comfortable on steep ground, read the terrain better or simply enjoy your descents more, our courses and guided days are built on the same technical foundation.

To go further on the subject, read our article on high-altitude mountain biking in the Valais.