Roc d'Azur Road Cycling 2026

"Clearly, you really are strong as a rock!" 🪨. That’s what your friends and family are likely to keep telling you when you confess you’ve signed up for the legendary Roc d'Azur. Because yes, this race has everything of a legend. With more than 40 successful editions, it keeps growing every year by mixing trail, gravel, cyclosportive, hiking, e-bikes, MTB and a whole bunch of other sports disciplines 😎.

In case you’ve been living in a cave, here’s the quick version. The Roc d'Azur is a bit like the famous Roland-Garros tennis tournament 🎾, or the pedal-powered version of UTMB: it’s simply a behemoth in the two-wheeled game 🚲. Since 1984 (yes, the same year as the Los Angeles Olympic Games 🇺🇸), this cyclosportive has carved out its place and become a must. And yet, the race didn’t get off to a flying start (that one’s not bad 😬). In Fréjus, in the Var, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the very first edition of the MTB Roc D’Azur race brought together only 7 participants 😉

Held at the beginning of October, the Roc d’Azur quickly became the world’s leading MTB event 🚵‍♂️ and now brings together all players in cycling and mountain biking. In fact, there are now more than 20,000 participants lining up at the start of the various races offered every year! But if you’re here, it’s to talk road cycling, so listen up. Sunday is fully dedicated to our lovers of asphalt ❤️. Choose between the "EKOÏ CYCLO ROC 180K", its little sister the "EKOÏ CYCLO ROC 120K" or the "EKOÏ CYCLO ROC 90K". The difference? The distance and the elevation gain, obviously. For the weekend beast, it’s nearly 3,000 mD+ awaiting the boldest riders. Good thing it’s October—it’ll help keep the engine from overheating 🥵. For the intermediate distance, plan for 1,900 mD+. Nothing to be ashamed of either... And on the shortest one, it’s 1,330 mD+ (precisely) that you’ll have to climb before you earn rest and a hot meal 🍜. A real journey halfway between intense effort and a change of scenery that will take you from town to town 🌄.

Because yes, you can be sure you’ll feast your eyes. It’s simple: open your eyes wide, breathe deeply, and boom—you’re in the Var! 😍 Admire the stunning oak and pine forests 🌲, the lakes and rivers 🏞, the vineyard plains, the coastal paths, the natural parks, and of course the Mediterranean Sea… 🌊 What’s more, the weather here is ideal since the Var totals about 300 days of sunshine per year! This department is clearly a runner’s paradise! ☀️ No wonder the Var is the second most touristy department in France! The Roc d’Azur will let you discover this area and its villages. You’ll see: Fréjus, an ancient Roman city 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-Raphaël and Sainte-Maxime ! ☝️

The routes are incredibly varied! 🏳️‍🌈 You’ll ride along charming southern roads, seaside roads along the coast, and discover magnificent little sun-drenched Mediterranean coves! 🏖 You won’t see the kilometers go by, we promise! Moving 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 sumptuous routes to discover the Massif des Maures and the Estérel massif ⛰️, two mountain ranges with surprising scenery characterized by limestone and red rocks, where steep ridgelines take shape and give the landscape a special charm that won’t leave you indifferent—we guarantee it! 🤞 Alongside the sporting program, the Roc d’Azur hosts every year the largest free MTB expo open to everyone 🚵‍♂️. It also offers many activities showcasing various disciplines from the cycling world.

And what do we do after the race? If you don’t know the Var, we recommend you go and discover the Gorges du Verdon! 🌅 Located in the heart of the Verdon Regional Natural Park, this river offers an impressive landscape shaped by erosion! The canyon of course enjoys exceptional biodiversity thanks to the meeting of Alpine and Mediterranean climates 🌊. If you’re brave, you can even swim, go for a canoe-kayak 🛶, a pedal boat 🚤, or rafting! 🌊 Also, if after this race you’d like to discover a typical village in the Var, we’d rather suggest heading to the village of Bormes-Les-Mimosas, a picturesque, flower-filled Provençal village. Its coastline offers beautiful beaches and is home to the famous Fort de Brégançon… a visit you should make while you’re in the region!

So, ready for this ride? 🎶