MEGAVALANCHE 2023 - Struggling forwards to a top 10 finish- Liam Moynihan full race

Thanks to all the great companies and people who help get me to the races and keep my bike & kit all running smooth.
Scott Sports
SR Suntour
MET Helmets
Bluegrass Eagle
Altura
Silt Wheels
Schwalbe
Acros components
BikeYoke
The Megavalanche is one of the most exciting races of the year.
We have a qualifying race in the previous days to determined the starting order. It's critical to do a good qualifying and have a front row start! I lined up far right on the front row. Ideally I 'd have been slightly more central but I was overall happy enough with my position with the intention to keep it nice and tight inside round the first corner. The snow was soft and although I managed to keep out of trouble I was definitely a fair bit slower than the leaders down the snow which is something I need to work on!
In the end Hugo Pigeon won the race, with Damien Oton 2nd, Olivier Bruwiere 3rd, Kilian Bron 4th and Stefan Peter rounding out the top 5.
I ended up 9th which isn't great but not terrible haha!
Already looking forwards to next years race!
Next up for me is the 'Ard Rock Enduro in the UK but next up on the channel will be a road trip film checking out a tonne of cool unheard of spots all around Eastern Europe!
Cheers for watching,
Liam

[@bobflynn5689]

I really appreciate the position counter!

[@LiamMoynihan]

Ahh glad to hear it. Extra wee bit of effort but always a nice touch I feel! Thanks for the good feedback

[@TheEpicBeastyGamerPlays]

INCREDIBLE TALENT! AND TOTAL MADNESS TOO! 😂👍👏🤘

[@viniciusvbf22]

Hallucinating pace at that uphill! Feels like the fastest I've seen so far. Well done! Another very good run.

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thank you! I think I managed to push pretty hard up the climb after sitting in behind Gilles and resting on the traverse section. Haha. Cheers!

[@nvogz]

Awesome footage yet again…but the depth of the snow at the start JEYZUS!!! Absolute machine on the climbs 💪🏾🤟🏾

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thank you! Yeh plenty snow this year, they got some real late big loads of snow in April! Which I guess is nice for the glaciers but definitely makes this race harder haha!!

[@sammic974]

bloody well done. we were exhausted watching your efforts!

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thank you! Haha its definitely a big effort put in at altitude!

[@Greg_Chase]

AT TIME 25:59, you have an 'un-tethered' control cable. Looks like the retaining clip for that cable came off. TRICK I USE: electrical wire. Remove the standard retaining clip, insert a short piece of copper wire into the small bracket in the frame that normally holds the near-useless retaining clips (they fall off my bikes all the time), then wrap the copper wire around the cable many times, put a twist at the end with needlenose pliers, trim off any excess. So that's at least one 'mechanical issue' that arose, that you mentioned in your written note in the video. It is a PITA when the near-useless retaining clips come off during a ride. It's the 'distraction aspect' that creates a small bit of stress for you - "is the gottdang cable gonna get caught in a bush" etc. EDIT: And it looks to be the front brake cable is the one dangling loose. I wasn't sure if it was the brake cable or the shifter cable. You can see it clearly at time 42.22 that it's the cable for the front brake. Nice job keeping your mind on the race and not the cable.

[@fabgg_]

The start was rough this year, congrats for the top 10

[@LiamMoynihan]

Yeh it was really hard going and I personally wasn't sure just how soft it was going to be in the first corner, otherwise I;d have fired in there a bit faster haha! Thanks!

[@Mortizul]

You are a beast up the hills!

[@LiamMoynihan]

haha thank you!

[@user-qc1sl5yd5t]

... mes félicitations de Colombie, tu es bon dans ce domaine et salutations à ton enfant, son père est un excellent compétiteur .... câlins ....👍👍👍 ....

[@Datamining101]

Wow tough start on that right side, and remarkable recovery. Nice work.

[@LiamMoynihan]

I was keen being on the right to stay inside for the first corner as in the past I've been on the left/middle and got taken out by people who started to the right and didn't turn enough in the first corner. Thankfully there was no big crash this year but it did make my tactic less beneficial haha

[@porkorosso7885]

Well done buddy, tough race! Agree with your comments that they got away from you on the initial downhill through the snow. I’ll watch their videos later to see how they managed it. Thanks for sharing!

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thank you! Yeh the first 5 or so managed to get down over the snow so so fast! I'll watch these all over next year before the race and try to get the snow section good for sure!! Haha

[@Pepeng-Basa]

1ST - HUGO 2ND - DAMIEN OTON 3RD - OLIVIER 4TH - KILLIAN BRON 5TH - PETER STEFAN

[@LiamMoynihan]

Correct!

[@alisonlnascimento]

Uma corrida Espetacular em um cenário extraordinário , Parabéns Man

[@erikd1012]

Great!

[@lsii1193]

man this sport is insane! I was watching and people start running. I was like, WHY R U RUNNING. Man this sports is mental!

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha. It is sketchy for sure. We were running because the snow was really soft. The race was delayed by around 30mins and started later than normal so the snow was no longer frozen from the night before meaning we had to run.haha thanks for watching!

[@leocomans9311]

Great run! A good start is crucial, and very hard this time.

[@LiamMoynihan]

Yeh a good start is really important. I always have a tiny bit too much caution on the start. Was super focused on getting to the steep bit ahead of the guys around me then settled into it a bit too much. Always learning!

[@Danny-vw1zq]

Congrats 🇬🇧

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thanks! I was definitely a little disappointed with the outcome but just need to get back at it next year and rematch this the night before to remind myself how much commitment is needed in the first 5mins haha!

[@Danny-vw1zq]

The snow conditions this year had a big impact on the race. Awesome ride 👍 I mite have a go next year.

[@quantumcat7673]

I'd love to run the megavalanche recording the thing. It would be like " Started second and finished dead last."

[@brucer2152]

Nice run mate and you crushed the uphill great equalizer...bon chance!

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thank you!!

[@lockykumar3119]

Hii papa moyn are you maintain king 👑 am impressed ❤ congrats your new subscriber🎉

[@danielszanto2955]

So that's what our city roads were inspired by.

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha inspired by pure chaos

[@taxamata]

great race, it feels like you flew the 08:00-22:00 segment at the speed of Damien Oton and you had your own duel with #10. barely noticed overtaking 43:53 but everyone was put in their places by loose snow at the beginning of the route

[@LiamMoynihan]

Ahhh thanks! I just wish I could have been nearer the front from the start.... I'll get there haha! Damien is unreal on a bike though to be fair, would be a seriously tough job staying with him! Soft snow definitely made it hard at the start but the first 4 or 5 got over it really well in fairness to them! Impressive!

[@simonharling6234]

@@LiamMoynihan Hugo and Olivier got through the snow about 10 secs ahead of Damien. Stefan about 30 secs back. Kilian 40 secs back

[@siphomkhize6453]

Good race, the snow section is still your kryptonite

[@LiamMoynihan]

Arghhhh I know!! I keep thinking I have it sorted out but still just not as good as the other fast boys. I'll get there! haha

[@dreams_n_destination]

It takes hell lot of your stamina to survive this. kudos !

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thank you!

[@ambition_vs_talent]

Imagine doing this run and finding out Strava auto-paused at the top Awesome videos btw ❤

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha I don't even use strava but I can imagine the auto pause being a substantial kick in the nuts haha! Thank you!!

[@thecelt4807]

you like machine ha well done great race greetings from australia

[@justthink4169]

00:02 Wow, I don't know many girl that can catch a bottle like that.

[@LiamMoynihan]

Was a real good catch haha!

[@mariannejacot1668]

very good. in a way i think all mountainbiker are a bit mad to play in such a way with their lives and on the other hand i admire humans who can do such a scary thing. congrats to you from an old lady on the eastern sea

[@workingguy6666]

25:40 - was it your front fender / mud guard? Later on it looks like a brake line came lose and was rubbing the tire at times. Awesome riding and show - thank you for putting these up.

[@chetrimadan8605]

that's my dream Bro

[@LiamMoynihan]

Such a fun race. You should try and get there one year if it is at all possible!

[@guate4]

Good job Liam! Keep it up! I wonder if the 45 min delay affected the snow condition.

[@LiamMoynihan]

Thank you! Yeh the 45min delay will have definitely made a difference on the snow. It was pretty warm and with the sun directly on the snow it would have been softening pretty quick. A few riders went down around 1hour before us to check if the corners were ice or ok and they managed to ride the entire snow pretty fast with no running at all!

[@Thomas.deNorth]

Thanks for uploading! Good race! I´m trying to see the start numbers of the other riders....was that Gilles Franck you passed uphill and that passed you again downhill? What a speed he had from there to the finish!

[@tna--]

yes it was him : Gilles finished 6th crazy fast in downhill

[@LiamMoynihan]

Yeh that was Gilles Franck, we were together from the snow all the way up the climb and then he got a shift on after passing me. I think he had the fastest second half to the race. There is a split timer half way up the climb. I know I had one of the fastest splits to the bottom after that so his must have been realllllll fast!

[@Thomas.deNorth]

@@LiamMoynihan Ahh, my comment here obviously posts the numbers as clickable for this video, which is not what I wanted of course, they are just results 😄If the results list is correct, I got these times after the split: (Oton had his puncture and others might had issues) 1- Hugo Pigeon: 19:44 2- Gilles Franck: 19:54 3- Damien Oton: 20:04 4- Kilian Bron: 20:12 5- Stefan Peter: 20:26 6- Olivier Bruwiere 20:30 7- Liam Moynihan: 20:31 8- Babtiste Gaillot: 20:40 9- Xavier Murigneaux 20:40 10- Premek Tejchman 20:50 11- Maxime Ciriego 20:51 12- Mael Feron- 20:55 13- Arnaud Garanger 20:56 14- Kjell Van Den B 21:00 15- Adrien Loron- 21:02 16- Lucas Monetti- 21:03 17- Maxime Danda- 21:07 18- Clement Benoit- 21:10 19- Mirco Widmer- 21:13 20- Quentin Champion 21:14 21- Damien Desbrosses -21:15 If I read the result list correct, this is the times used in the second half. I am unsure about how the results lists show the times from start to the split. The times shown do not match any of the videos you guys post if the split is in the climb. And I thought the split was in the climb but watching the timer on all the videos, the split would be some hundreds of meters before the climb starts. But anyways....I think the list I made here is correct times for second half.

[@simonharling6234]

Hard to diagnose mechanical problems from shadows - beats me. I'll take a guess - you lost your goggles? Anyway, great ride - top 10 is seriously impressive

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha that's a solid guess. I agree it's hard to diagnose from shadows. You can kinda see the forks not moving like they normally would but definitely hard to spot. Thanks!

[@JRtoutcourt]

each year confirms, you are a "remontada man "

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha thanks! I'd definitely rather be an "out the front from start to finish man" but I'll take being a remontada man for now haha

[@thentil]

So interesting how you were able to coast behind him while he was peddling the whole time!

[@LiamMoynihan]

Yeh as soon as you are going more than about 15/20 kmph it makes a massive difference if you can get into someones slipstream. On that section it's quite fast but you still have to work hard to keep the pace but being behind someone you can really slipstream and save energy!

[@tananario]

It’s also known as “drafting.”

[@derekdjay]

Why does this song Alarma play at the start of every Megavalanche race?

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha I think it's just their theme song they have been using for 30 odd years and it's really recognisable for being that race so they stick with it!

[@axintecristian9098]

Hi, do u also come this year in Romania for Tare ca piatra 18?

[@miggyclark1]

Nice ride, pesky soft snow, Front brake cable is out its clip?

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha yeh the snow was really hard! Thats a good guess nthe front brake, but the brake hose flapping is just because its long and I didn't cut it down yet, so wasn't that! haha!

[@gino-osa]

this year the snow affected the race too much, but why did you all go right uphill at 5:30? . . those who arrived on the podium all went left where the morning sun came later and therefore the snow is always a little harder there.

[@LiamMoynihan]

I really considered going left at that bit but having just been running in the snow it seemed like a really good option to just get to the hard ground and get moving with a bit of pace. It's really hard to decide in the moment what will be best. I think my main mistake was on the first traverse after the first corner, i should have ridden that with way more commitment and that would have carried into the full next section.

[@AhmedAliRazzaq-xq4hj]

I think this race was very tough for riders which were very behind from you due to very bad snow.

[@Rikitikisiki]

Dunno about the issue, I'm not expert enough, buuut let's guess front brake issue? edit: nvm, I'll take it back. Have no clue.

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha good guess. My front brake hose is a little too long so it looked unhooked but wasn't that

[@simonharling6234]

WTH happened at 27.30? You went from 9th back to 10th. I guess Clement Benoit pull a short cut on you? Legal or not so much?

[@alan181090]

Clement cut through the grass. Is a legal movement because there's no checkpoint missed there

[@arcykato]

Look at Hugo Pigeon @ 00:18, all over the place but still managed to stay on the bike and move up spots to win the race 😃

[@LiamMoynihan]

Yeh he did a really good job on the snow where it was a bit softer and then is fast as shit in general haha!

[@Rafaelmtelles]

25:49 front Shocks?

[@Rafaelmtelles]

27:21 That's it!

[@petayV8]

I would probably run a 40t for this race ha

[@LiamMoynihan]

Haha good luck finding a decent bike that will fit one!!

[@petayV8]

@@LiamMoynihan lol yeah I was actually just thinking that after I wrote it

[@LuvinLifeInCA]

At 24:40 dropper post goes down and stays down.

[@Vinwoir]

Not sure if that would give a clue in the shadows and also looks to be seated around 36:00

[@LiamMoynihan]

Nope wasn't that, but good guess! haha

[@AdrianoSilva-kx4mr]

🇧🇷🇧🇷brazil🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

[@anatepes6545]

I think is a problem on the wheel

[@user-ng5tb1wh2v]

Так спешил, а там уже отдыхают

[@lengfeng817]

太精彩了，加油，谢谢你分享

[@blowinsmokeupyour]

@1:24 how is this not cheating?

[@LiamMoynihan]

Up on that top bit of the mountain the course constraints are basically defined by where is rideable. The reason most folk went along further and don’t cut across is because that section of snow isn’t groomed so is super rough and unpredictable/slower. The only reason I chose to cut over is I hit a soft patch on the traverse and lost all my speed. Was a bit of a gamble going that was as the I groomed snow could potentially be unrideable. Further down the course is clearly marked with tape and arrows so if you miss a course marker then it would definitely be cheating but in the bit you pointed out it isn’t

[@Greg_Chase]

TWO COMMENTS 1) the uphill section with all the spectators at time 23:40 thereabouts - they sound like monkeys/chimpanzees, and this is true each year of the race. I recommend they adopt instead understandable verbiage of the language of their choice 2) DON'T USE THE BRAKES "Sometimes I feel like I want to use the brakes, then I stop myself - because I want to go faster" DON'T USE THE BRAKES

[@rickhurley7653]

Let me guess, you lost a pedal

[@planetrob555]

Stop wiping at your camera. It's fine and you're going to fall off one of the times trying to wipe it.

[@thegodofcycle216]

Oh, when you are behind another cyclist, please keep 3 bike lengths between you. Health and safety first. Thank you.