Megavalanche Insurance

What is the Megavalanche?

The Megavalanche is one of the most exhilarating and extreme downhill mountain bike races in the world. Held annually in Alpe d’Huez, France, the premise is simple. It starts at the glacier-covered summit of Pic Blanc (3,300m) and sends riders hurtling down nearly 2,600m of vertical descent and over 20k distance through snow, ice, rock and technical singletrack.

With hundreds of competitors launching off the start line at once, the mass-start format adds to the chaos, making bike handling skills, endurance, and sheer bravery essential. The course transitions from treacherous icy slopes to rocky alpine terrain before winding through forests and finishing in the valley below—a true test of skill and resilience.

With such an extreme event comes an inherent level of risk. High-speed descents, unpredictable terrain, and the sheer number of riders mean crashes are common, and injuries can be serious. That’s why having the right travel insurance is absolutely crucial.

Does normal travel insurance cover the Megavalanche

Standard policies often exclude downhill mountain biking, competitive racing or extreme sports, leaving riders vulnerable if they require medical treatment or repatriation. Without proper cover, an accident could leave you facing whopping medical bills or logistical nightmares. We cover this subject in our blog, Does your travel insurance actually cover cycling?

Does Yellow Jersey travel insurance cover the Megavalanche?

Yes!

Yellow Jersey offers mountain biking travel insurance designed specifically to cover downhill mountain biking, including events like the Megavalanche. You can buy Megavalanche travel insurance here.

Amongst a whole host of benefits, it includes helicopter rescue, essential for a race that takes place in such remote alpine terrain. Riders tackling the Megavalanche would need Activity Pack C to ensure they have the right level of cover, giving them peace of mind to focus on the ride ahead.