Roc d'Azur Vélo de Route

"You’re really fort comme a rock !" 🪨. That’s the kind of thing people around you will repeat when you tell them you’ve signed up for the legendary race that is the Roc d'Azur. Because yes, this race has a legendary vibe. With more than 40 editions, it keeps growing each year by blending trail, gravel, cycling sportives, hiking, e-bike, mountain biking and a whole bunch of other disciplines 😎.

In case you’re living under a rock, here’s the quick version. The Roc d’Azur, it’s a bit like the famous tennis tournament Roland Garros in tennis 🎾, or the pedal-powered version of the UTMB: basically a monster in the two-wheeled game 🚲. Since 1984 (and yes, the same year as the Los Angeles Olympics 🇺🇸) this cycling sport has carved out its niche and become a must. Yet, the race didn’t start with a bang (not exactly that 😬). In Fréjus, in the Var, in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the first edition of the race VTT Roc D’Azur had only 7 participants 😉

Held at the start of October, the Roc d’Azur quickly became the world’s premier mountain biking event 🚵‍♂️ and now brings together all the players in cycling and MTB. In fact, there are now more than 20,000 participants lining up for the various races offered each year! But if you’re here, it’s to talk about road cycling, so here’s the program. Sunday is fully dedicated to our asphalt lovers ❤️. Choose from: the "EKOÏ CYCLO ROC 180K", its little sister the "EKOÏ CYCLO ROC 120K" or the "EKOÏ CYCLO ROC 90K". What’s the difference? The distance and elevation, obviously. For the weekend monster, it’s almost 3 000 mD+ waiting for the bravest riders. Luckily it’s October, so you won’t overheat the engine 🥵. For the mid-distance, 1 900 mD+ are to be expected. Not to be ashamed either... And on the shortest option, it’s 1 330 mD+ (precisely) that you’ll ascend before reaching the rest and a hot meal 🍜. A true journey halfway between intense effort and environmental immersion that will take you from town to town 🌄.

Yes, you’ll be spoiled for visuals. Here’s the simple approach: open your eyes wide, take a deep breath, and you’re in the Var! 😍 Admire the stunning forests of oaks and pines 🌲, the lakesand rivers 🏞, the wine plains, the coastal trails, the nature parks, and of course the Mediterranean Sea… 🌊 On top of that, the weather is ideal here with roughly 300 days of sunshine per year! This department is surely the runner’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 architectural heritage on the Mediterranean coast, as well as Roquebrune-sur-Argens a charming centuries-old village by the water, or Saint-Raphaël and Sainte-Maxime ! ☝️

The routes are ultra varied! 🏳️‍🌈 You’ll traverse charming south coast roads, coastal routes and discover Sultry little Mediterranean coves ! 🏖 You won’t notice the kilometres fly by, I promise! Going from the sea 🌅, to the mountains ⛰️, not to mention the Provençal forests… The variety of landscapes will make you forget the effort! You’ll also enjoy these stunning routes to discover the Massif des Maures or the Estérel Massif ⛰️, two mountain ranges with striking landscapes of limestone and red rocks, where jagged reliefs create a landscape with a special charm you won’t forget, we promise! 🤞 Besides the athletic program, the Roc d’Azur hosts every year the biggest free MTB show 🚵‍♂️. It also offers many activities celebrating various cycling disciplines.

And what do we do after the race? If you don’t know the Varwe recommend you explore the Gorges du Verdon! 🌅 Located in the heart of the Verdon Regional Natural Park, this river offers a jaw-dropping landscape carved by erosion! The canyon naturally hosts exceptional biodiversity thanks to the meeting of the Alpine and Mediterranean climates 🌊. If you’re up for it, you can even go kayaking, canoeing, pedal boating 🛶, or rafting !

So, ready for this ride? 🎶