A Roc marked by hope and solidarity. …It’s the finest age, so they say. The Roc d’Azur, the greatest mountain bike event in Europe, will be celebrating its twentieth birthday this year.
Following their annual appointment since 1984, the towns of Fréjus and Roquebrune-sur-Agens, in the Var, will be the settings for this fantastic event where the best specialists and simple fans of sport and nature are brought together.
But, this 20th birthday celebration has been made possible by the perseverance of the organizers, the towns of Fréjus and Roquebrune-sur-Agens and Havas Sports.
10,000 hectares of the Maures massif burnt to a cinder in less than 24 hours!
On two occasions, at the end of July, the routes used by the Roc d’Azur were devastated by horrendous fires. In spite of the destruction these fires have caused, both landowners and the organizing team are resolute that this event will take place, as a sign of hope. The initial routes have been preserved, except for 45 km of the untimed « randonnée » course, which are completely unusable.
“For the other races, that will remain unchanged, competitors will ride through routes partly in a green landscape and partly on burnt ground”, explains Alain Bianchi, director of the races and in charge of the routes for the town of Fréjus.
Above all, Havas Sports has committed itself through the operation “one competitor, one tree”. The company will offer one euro – the price of a young sapling – for each competitor to help the reconstruction of the massif. Different prevention operations will also be set up on site during the event.
Ecological actions and solidarity will therefore, mark this 20th edition of the Roc D’Azur, causes that strongly concern nature-loving mountain bikers. Registration forms already received show a 10% rise in participants compared to the same period last year, giving a new impetus of future competitors to defend the environment they hold so dear. There is also great enthusiasm to find that friendly atmosphere once again, and especially not to miss out on such an important appointment. “The mountain bike fraternity want nothing more than to see the Roc d’Azur restores to its former state, and give back to nature all that it has brought them”, states Alain Bianchi.
Everyone (100,000 visitors last year) will be able to enjoy the different activities taking place during the five days of races. Apart from the biggest cycle trade fair in France (over 200 exhibitors), the Roc d’Azur will be welcoming free introductory courses in mountain biking, various BMX demonstrations, the new “4 Cross-les Gêts” (spectacular confrontation of some 150 competitors, in teams of four, battling it out down hill over bumps and round bends), the “Pra-loup South Shore” (high level acrobatics carried out by professionals but also initiation for beginners), the Trial Show with Koxx Trial-Alpes d’Huez (four of the best specialists in the world) and not forgetting the “Môm Roc”, escapade for 4 to 6 year-olds and “les ballades du Roc” (3 bike circuits on routes open to all from 12 years). Nothing but pleasure in perspective!
After all, it’s not every day you’re 20!
The programme:
Wednesday 8 October:
- Generation Roc (8 km, 22 km, 8 km, open to middle and high school students from the Nice – UNSS education academy) 14h15 – 14h35 – 15h00.
Friday 10 October:
- Roc Marathon 83 (88 km – race open to all people born in 1985 and before) 8h00
- Roc Pro (39 km – race open to all exhibitors, journalists and officers born in 1985 and before) 12h00
- Master Roc (39 km – race open to all people born in 1973 and before) 13h30
- Mid Roc (39 km – race open to all people born in 1985 and before) 14h00
Saturday 11 October:
- Roc Tandems (39 km – race open to all people born in 1986 and before) 9h00
- Roc d’Azur Dames and Espoirs Dames (39 km – race open to all women born in 1980 and before 1981 to 1984) 10h00
- Kid Roc (8 km for youngsters born in 1991 and 1992, 2.3 km for youngsters born in 1996 and 1997) 14h00 – 14h30 – 14h50 – 16h00
- Randos Roc (46 km, black route, for people born in 1988 and before, 20 km, red route, for people born before 1991, 10 km, blue route, for people born in 1995 and before) 11h00 – 15h00 – 15h45
Sunday 12 October:
- Roc Cadets (22 km for young men people born in 1987 and 1988) 8h30
- Roc cadettes and juniors Dames (22 km for young women born in 1987 and 1988 and 1985 and 1986) 8h45
- Roc Juniors Men (39 km for young men born in 1985 and 12986) 9h00
- Roc 55 km (55 km open to all people born 1984 and before) 10h00
