Roc d'Azur Rando VTT

If I tell you “ 1984 ”, what comes to mind? The more literary among you will surely reference the novel by George Orwell… 📚 As for the athletes, this date might evoke the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1984! 🇺🇸 And yet, in Fréjus, in the Var, in the Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, another international event took place: the first edition of the mountain bike race Roc D’Azur with… 7 participants! 😉

Held at the start of October, the Roc d’Azur quickly became the world’s first MTB event 🚵‍♂️ and now gathers all players in cycling and MTB. Indeed, there are now more than 20,000 participants lining up at the starts of the various races offered each year! For some time now, organizers have diversified and also host trails and hikes. And today we focus on the "chill" MTB version, the Rando VTT ! 🚲

So, the planned program is, how to say it? Pretty full 😆. On the program 31 races (yes, really) are planned to satisfy as many as possible. Among them, some MTB hikes on MTB and electric MTB ⚡️. We’re here to enjoy it! 😎 From Wednesday to Sunday, several races will be offered according to their difficulty (Green, Blue, Red, Black) plus an enduro, a 15 km themed hike, and a family hike so the little ones can enjoy with their parents via a specialized route 🧒 of 8 km. On Wednesday you’ll be able to do 22 km or 32 km, Thursday 28 km, 42 km or 48 km. On Friday, you’ll have routes of 22 km, 30 km, 32 km and 49 km. On Saturday, nothing’s over yet: you can do 22 km, 32 km, 42 km or 48 km (the latter is only open to electric MTB). Finally on Sunday, the beautiful, longest "Rando d'Azur" at 55 km and 1 275 mD+ will make your day memorable 🤩.

So, ready to be amazed? 1, 2, 3… Open your eyes wide, breathe in deeply, you are in the Var! 😍 Admire the stunning forests of oaks and pines 🌲, the lakes and rivers 🏞, the vine plains, the coastal trails, the natural parks, and of course the Mediterranean Sea… 🌊 Also, the weather here is ideal since the Var records about 300 sunny days per year! This department is clearly the runners’ 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 town with remarkable architecture on the Mediterranean coast, as well as Roquebrune-sur-Argens a charming millennial village by the water, or Saint-Raphaël and Sainte-Maxime ! ☝️

The routes are ultra-varied! 🏳️‍🌈 You’ll traverse some charming Southern trails, beachside paths and you’ll discover wonderful little sunlit Mediterranean coves ! 🏖 You won’t see the kilometers rushing 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 limestone and red rocks, where rugged reliefs create a landscape with a unique 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 numerous activities highlighting various disciplines from the cycling world.

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

Ready for this stroll? 🎶

« Elegant as Celadon, Agile as Scaramouche, I warn you, dear Mirmydon, that at the end of the dispatch I run ! » 🏃‍♂️