(Bandar Seri Begawan, 14th) — A team of four mountain bikers from Brunei, relying on perseverance and endurance, have successfully conquered the French Alps by completing the Megavalanche, regarded as one of the world's toughest downhill mountain bike races.
This competition is an endurance mountain bike race held annually at Alpe d’Huez in the French Alps. The race starts from the summit at an elevation of 3,330 meters. Participants are required to descend a 20 km avalanche route, traversing rocky sections and winding through forests, ultimately descending 2,600 meters to reach the finish line.
The team was led by Pengiran Anak Hishamuddin Shah Mardi Al-Haj, with teammates Mazalan Yakub, Heidir Arrahman Khabri, and Richard O.
They traveled to the iconic Alps (Alpe d’Huez) to participate in the race. The event took place on June 30, with qualifiers on July 4 and the finals on July 6.
Starting from the 3,330-meter-high peak, riders began a 20-kilometer downhill section featuring deep snow fields, loose rock gardens, and dense forests, with speeds often reaching 80 to 90 kilometers per hour.
More than 1,200 participants from around the world competed, with the challenge being obvious: finishing the race is a victory in itself. Overcoming extreme terrain and unexpected mechanical breakdowns, all four Bruneian riders successfully qualified for the main race.
On race day, six months of intensive training paid off as each rider crossed the finish line, completing what is widely regarded as one of the world's most challenging downhill events.
Pengiran Anak Hishamuddin Shah Mardi Al-Haj stated that finishing the race was a victory for all of them.
“We didn’t come here to win, but to prove to ourselves and the world that Bruneians can compete alongside the very best—and we did it.”
This milestone event marks a historic victory for mountain biking in Brunei, built on passion, perseverance, and a spirit of adventure.
This competition is an endurance mountain bike race held annually at Alpe d’Huez in the French Alps. The race starts from the summit at an elevation of 3,330 meters. Participants are required to descend a 20 km avalanche route, traversing rocky sections and winding through forests, ultimately descending 2,600 meters to reach the finish line.
The team was led by Pengiran Anak Hishamuddin Shah Mardi Al-Haj, with teammates Mazalan Yakub, Heidir Arrahman Khabri, and Richard O.
They traveled to the iconic Alps (Alpe d’Huez) to participate in the race. The event took place on June 30, with qualifiers on July 4 and the finals on July 6.
Starting from the 3,330-meter-high peak, riders began a 20-kilometer downhill section featuring deep snow fields, loose rock gardens, and dense forests, with speeds often reaching 80 to 90 kilometers per hour.
More than 1,200 participants from around the world competed, with the challenge being obvious: finishing the race is a victory in itself. Overcoming extreme terrain and unexpected mechanical breakdowns, all four Bruneian riders successfully qualified for the main race.
On race day, six months of intensive training paid off as each rider crossed the finish line, completing what is widely regarded as one of the world's most challenging downhill events.
Pengiran Anak Hishamuddin Shah Mardi Al-Haj stated that finishing the race was a victory for all of them.
“We didn’t come here to win, but to prove to ourselves and the world that Bruneians can compete alongside the very best—and we did it.”
This milestone event marks a historic victory for mountain biking in Brunei, built on passion, perseverance, and a spirit of adventure.