If I tell you â 1984 â, what comes to mind? The more literary among you will surely mention the novel by George Orwell⊠đ As for sports fans, this date might remind you of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games! đșđž And yet, in FrĂ©jus, in the Var, in the Provence-Alpes-CĂŽte dâAzur region, another international-scale event was taking place: the very first edition of the MTB race Roc DâAzur with⊠7 participants! đ
Held at the beginning of October, the Roc dâAzur quickly became the worldâs leading MTB event đ”ââïž and today brings together all the players in cycling. In fact, there are now more than 20,000 participants lining up at the starts of the various races offered each year! That said, for some time now, the organizers have been diversifying and also putting on trail runs, hikes, and gravel races to shine a spotlight on this great discipline đ. This year, no fewer than 4 gravel routes are on offer (33 km, 70 km, 77 km and 143 km). One important detail: the 70 km and 143 km are rando gravel events! đŽ
Ready to be amazed? 1, 2, 3⊠Open your eyes wide, take a deep breath, youâre in the Var ! đ Admire the sublime oak and pine forests đČ, the lakes and rivers đ, the vineyard plains, the coastal trails, the natural parks, and of course the Mediterranean Sea⊠đ Whatâs more, the weather is optimal here, since the Var records around 300 days of sunshine a year! This department is truly a cyclistâs paradise! âïž No wonder the Var is the second most touristy department in France! The Roc dâAzur will allow you to discover this department and its villages. Youâll discover: FrĂ©jus, an ancient Roman town with incredible architectural heritage on the Mediterranean coast, as well as Roquebrune-sur-Argens a charming little thousand-year-old village by the water, and also Saint-RaphaĂ«l! âïž
The routes are ultra-varied! đłïžâđ Youâll take some charming southern trails, paths along the seaside and youâll discover magnificent little sunny Mediterranean coves ! đ So you wonât see the kilometres go by, we promise! Going from the sea đ to the mountains â°ïž, without forgetting the Provençal forests⊠The variety of landscapes will make you forget the effort! Youâll also take advantage of these magnificent routes to discover the Massif des Maures and the Massif de lâEstĂ©rel â°ïž, two mountain ranges with astonishing landscapes characterized by limestone and red rocks, where steep reliefs shape a distinctive charm that wonât leave you indifferentâwe guarantee it! đ€ In addition to the sporting program, the Roc dâAzur hosts each year the largest free MTB expo open to everyone đ”ââïž. It offers plenty of activities highlighting various disciplines from the world of cycling.
So, what do we do after the race? If you donât know the Var, we recommend going to discover the Gorges du Verdon ! đ Located in the heart of the Verdon Regional Natural Park, this river offers an impressive landscape carved by erosion! The canyon of course enjoys exceptional biodiversity thanks to the meeting of Alpine and Mediterranean climates đ. If youâre brave, you can even go for a swim, take a canoe-kayak đ¶, a pedal boat đ€ or go rafting ! đ Whatâs more, if after this trail you want to discover a typical village in the Var, we instead recommend heading to the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, a picturesque, flower-filled Provençal village. Its coastline offers very beautiful beaches and is home to the famous Fort de BrĂ©gançon⊠a must-visit in the region!
So, ready for this ride? đ¶
â Elegant as CĂ©ladon, Agile as Scaramouche, I warn you, dear Myrmidon, that at the end of the send-off I run ! â đââïž
You can pick up your bib at the Base Nature François Léotard in Fréjus (1196 Boulevard de la Mer, 83600 Fréjus) on:
Wednesday 7 October: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Thursday 8 October: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday 9 October: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday 10 October: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Please note:
There is no bib pick-up on Sunday 11 October.
For races scheduled after 11:00 am, bib pick-up is possible up to 1 hour before the start.
For races scheduled at 11:00 am or earlier, you must pick up your bib the day before.
Race starts will take place as follows:
Thursday 8 October 2026:
Canyon Gravel Roc Sprint (33 km): 9:00 am start at Place Perrin, Roquebrune-sur-Argens (Thursday 8 October 2026)
Friday 9 October 2026:
Canyon Rando Gravel Estérel (70 km): 8:00 am start at Village Cap Estérel, Agay, Saint-Raphaël
Saturday 10 October 2026:
Alltricks Rando Gravel Roc 140K (143 km): 7:00 am start at the Base Nature in Fréjus
Continental Gravel ROC (77 km): starts at 7:30 am and 7:45 am at the Base Nature in Fréjus
No documentation is required for the Rando rides (140 km and 70 km). However, for the "Gravel Roc Sprint" (30 km) and the "Gravel Roc" (77 km), you must provide a licence or a "health module" certificate issued less than 4 months before the event date. This module is available at licence.ffc.fr.
Minors must complete this questionnaire.
Yes. You must be at least in the following category:
Cadet (born in 2011 or earlier) to take part in the "Canyon Gravel Roc Sprint" and the "Canyon Rando Gravel Estérel"
Junior (born in 2009 or earlier) to take part in the "Alltricks Rando Gravel Roc 140K" and the "Continental Gravel Roc"
Bib prices vary depending on when you register:
For the "Gravel Roc Sprint":
From 2 June 2026 to 8 September 2026: âŹ39
After 8 September: âŹ45
For the "Canyon Rando Gravel Estérel":
From 2 June 2026 to 8 September 2026: âŹ72
After 8 September: âŹ75
For the "Alltricks Rando Gravel 140K":
From 2 June 2026 to 8 September 2026: âŹ89
After 8 September: âŹ94
For the "Continental Gravel Roc":
From 2 June 2026 to 8 September 2026: âŹ59
After 8 September: âŹ64
Cut-off times will be announced later on the event website right here.
There will be:
2 aid stations for the "Canyon Gravel Roc Sprint"
5 aid stations for the "Canyon Rando Gravel Estérel"
4 aid stations for the "Alltricks Rando Gravel Roc 140K"
5 aid stations for the "Continental Gravel Roc"
Bikes accepted at Roc dâAzur must comply with the current official standards set by the FFC and the UCI. Participants are solely responsible for ensuring their equipment meets these standards and is properly maintained. For safety reasons and to ensure the smooth running of the event, each participant must follow the rules below regarding equipment and gear. Please note: as stated in the event rules, except for the Enduroc Electrique, it is strictly forbidden to take part in a race (a timed event with a ranking) using an electric-assist mountain bike.
You can find the mandatory equipment list in the event rules.
Electric-assist MTBs are only permitted in events that include the word âRANDOâ in their name and in the Enduroc Electrique. Using an e-bike in an event that does not meet these criteria will result in the rider being disqualified and withdrawn from the event.
Yes, a bag drop service will be available and operates both day and night. It costs âŹ2 per day and âŹ5 per night. All proceeds are donated to the local AMSLF club.
Youâll be able to find all your photos in the week following the event on Sportograf.
If you still have questions, you can contact the organizers by filling out this form.
Join the hundreds of volunteers:
Volunteers in Fréjus: base-nature@ville-frejus.fr
Volunteers in Roquebrune: rocdazur@mairie-roquebrune-argens.fr
Volunteers in Saint-Raphaël: sports@ville-saintraphael.fr
More information here.
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