© Les 2 Alpes
Mountain of Hell 2019 bookings
Book your place for the biggest enduro-downhill-freeride mountain bike event on Les Deux Alpes calendar
The Mountain of Hell is back for its 20th edition, this time with a Clash of the Titans theme, on June 28th-30th 2019. The event attracts around 700 riders each year and has been hugely popular since its debut in 1999.
The Sunday final’s epic 25km run begins on the glacier at 3400m. The course descends on snow, rock and then dirt trails to the resort, where a brief urban section leads to the steep, twisty track to Venosc. The finish at 900m gives a total vertical drop of 2500m.
The mountain biking takes place over three days: Friday is for practice, Saturday for qualification and Sunday for the race itself. The qualification day serves to determine the start order but all entrants get to start the main race the following day. With a 700-strong mass start, being near the front is a must for those wanting a shot at a top ten finish. For the rest of the field, having the right position in the start should mean spending less time stuck behind a slower rider or holding up the faster ones.
Entry to the race costs €103 euros per person, including a three-day mountain bike lift pass and insurance. With a French mountain bike license (which comes with club membership) the price is reduced to €79 without insurance. It is possible to book the event entry online.
How to get here
There are few flights to Grenoble airport in summer, so Lyon and Geneva are usually the best places to fly to. Lyon airport is around two hour’s drive from Les Deux Alpes and Geneva is a little under three. Getting here by public transport normally involves at least one change in Grenoble city centre, so it is worth looking at car hire and private transfer options. When bringing heavy mountain bikes, it might be more practical to drive the whole distance.
Where to stay
Staying in Les Deux Alpes close to the event centre is the easiest option. There is a wide range of accommodation in the resort, including hotels, chalets, and apartments. Staying near the finish line in Venosc would also be a good choice. There are two good campsites as well as hotels and chalets. Bear in mind that competitors need to be in Les Deux Alpes early on Sunday morning to catch the cable car to the mass start, so a car will be needed if staying outside the resort.
Getting to the start
The starts for both qualification and the final are both reached using the Jandri Express lift from the centre of Les Deux Alpes behind the main square and tourist office. The lift is easily reached by a flat or downhill ride from most accommodation in the resort and is at most 15 minutes on foot from anywhere in the town.
What else to do in Les Deux Alpes
In Les Deux Alpes in the summer, there is never a shortage of activities to try. From summer skiing to white water rafting, the list is endless. Skiing and snowboarding are possible every morning throughout the summer. The summer ski area on the glacier is the largest in Europe and is accessed using the Jandri express.
Down in Venosc, reached by gondola lift, there are watersports on the River Veneon as well as a tree-top high ropes course. Water-based activities include white-water rafting, kayaking, hot-dogging and hydrospeed. There are also two via-ferrata routes starting from the Veneon valley. Besides mountain biking, the Oisans region is also a mecca for road bikers, with classic climbs like Alpe d’Huez and the Col du Galibier in easy reach.
Read more from our reporter Ian on his website.
