Roc d'Azur Gravel

If I tell you “ 1984 ”, what comes to mind? The more literary among you will surely think of the novel by George Orwell… 📚 As for sports fans, this date might remind you of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in 1984! 🇺🇸 And yet, in Fréjus, in the Var, in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, another international event was held: the first edition of the mountain bike race Roc D’Azur 🗺️ with… 7 participants! 😉

Organized at the start of October, the Roc d’Azur quickly became the world's first MTB event 🚵‍♂️ and today brings together all the players in cycling. Indeed, there are now more than 20,000 participants lining up at the start of the various races offered each year! However, for some time now, organizers have been diversifying and also hosting trails, hikes, and gravel races to celebrate this beautiful discipline 🙏. This year, no fewer than 4 gravel routes are offered to you (33 km, 70 km, 77 km and 143 km). Small note: the 70 km and 143 km are gravel randonnée races! 🚴

Ready to be amazed? 1, 2, 3… Open your eyes wide, breathe deeply, you are in the Var ! 😍 Admire the stunning oak and pine forests 🌲, the lakes and rivers 🏞, the wine plains, the coastal trails, the natural parks, and of course the Mediterranean Sea… 🌊 Plus, the weather here is perfect since the Var boasts about 300 days of sunshine per year! This department is definitely the cyclist’s paradise! ☀️ No wonder the Var is the second most touristy department in France! The Roc d’Azur will let you discover this department and its villages. You’ll discover: Fréjus, an ancient Roman city with incredible architecture on the edge of the Mediterranean, as well as Roquebrune-sur-Argens a charming little millennia-old village by the water, or Saint-Raphaël ! ☝️

The routes are ultra-varied! 🏳️‍🌈 You’ll ride some charming southern trails, coastal paths and you’ll discover magnificent little sunny Mediterranean coves ! 🏖 You won’t be counting kilometers as you go, cross my heart! From the sea to the mountains ⛰️, without forgetting the Provençal forests… The diversity of landscapes will make you forget the effort! You’ll also enjoy these stunning routes to discover the Massif des Maures or even the Estérel massif ⛰️, two mountain ranges with striking limestone and red rocks, where sharp reliefs give the landscape a special charm you won’t forget, we promise! 🤞 In addition to the athletic program, the Roc d’Azur hosts each year the biggest free MTB expo open to all 🚵‍♂️. It offers numerous activities highlighting various cycling disciplines.

And what do we do after the race? If you don’t know the Var, we recommend you go explore the Gorges du Verdon ! 🌅 Located in the heart of the Verdon Regional Natural Park, this river offers a stunning landscape shaped by erosion! The canyon naturally hosts exceptional biodiversity thanks to the meeting of the alpine climates and Mediterranean climates 🌊. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even swim, go on a canoe-kayak 🛶, pedal boat 🚤 or rafting ! If after this trail you want to discover a typical Var village, we suggest heading to the village of Var, specifically Bormes-Les-Mimosas, a picturesque Provencal village in bloom. Its coastline offers beautiful beaches and houses the famous Fort de Brégançon… a must-visit in the region!

So, ready for this stroll? 🎶

“ Elegant as Celadon, Agile as Scaramouche, I warn you, dear Mirmydon, that at the end of the cue I run ! ” 🏃‍♂️