Roc d'Azur: A Record Roc

One more Roc on the CV for Laurence Leboucher. The French MTB and cyclo-cross queen dominated the race in a relaxed manner at the 19th edition of the Women's Roc d'Azur. Leaving the Frejus Nature Base she had a lead of 15 seconds over the other riders. " I don't like being passed during the race which is why I started so quickly and my cyclo-cross experience helped me out a great deal. The wet and muddy terrain also scared me. In the end the course went extremely well. I simply needed to stay concentrated so I didn't fall in a rut. " Laurence Leboucher holds the record without a doubt for the number of victories. She is the only one to have won 4 times the Roc d'Azur. She expects to end her champion career at the end of 2004 after having won the next two editions of the Roc and slipping her name into the record books of the Roc d'Azur.

Today's Results

Roc Dames Elites and Espoirs1 Laurence LEBOUCHER in 2h11"53 / UV FRESNOISE2 Hélène MARCOUYRE in 2h13"11 / TEAM GIANT VTT MAG3 Sabrina ENAUX in 2h14"25 / TEAM STOP SERVICES SAINT DIE Roc Marathon1 Frédéric FRECH in 4h15"232 Sébastien LE NAOUR in 4h45"183 Etienne HAUTAVOINE in 4h49"04/ V.C. AVIZE Roc Tandem1 CHEVALLIER / COLOMBATO in 2h03"422 GRIFFON / DEMANGEON in 2h08"52 / VELOROC CAVAILLON3 ACHARD/ARMATAFFET in 2h12"06 / TEAM SCOTT PORTES DU SOLEIL

The double winner of the Men's Roc d'Azur is super motivated to win again. He will be the first to have won three years in a row. " I really want the hat trick " proclaimed Thomas Dietch who is feeling good and ready to attack in tomorrow's race. The Roc is his favorite race and one of his major objectives for the season ; " The Roc is a rolling technical course. You need to be really strong andthis is one of my qualities. Fo me the Roc is the biggest event in the MTB world. I've seen nothing equivalent. Everything is there for me to be at my strongest.. "

The competition will be rude when you consider other champions such as Christophe Dupouey (French Champion 2002), Cedreic Ravanel, Thomas Frischknecht (bronze at 2002 World Championships), Jose Hermida or even Julien Absalon (World Espoir Champion 2002).

Tomorrow's program : Sunday 13 October 2002

8h30 Roc Cadets 22 km born in 1986

8h45 Roc Cadettes et Juniors Dames born in 1984 to 1987

9h00 Roc Junior 39 km born in 1984 to 1985

10h00 Roc 55 born in 1983 and before

The Roc onTV

ROC D'AZUR

Fréjus - Rocquebrune-sur-Argens

SUNDAY 13 OCTOBRE 2002

IMAGES FREE OF RIGHTS NEWS AND TV MAGAZINES (until 31/12/02)

Date : Sunday 13 october 2002-10-08

Time : 14.30 - 14.45 GMT / 16.30 - 16.45 continental time