- The 42nd Roc d’Azur CIC is under way, with 19,000 people registered for its events
- The exhibition brings together 300 exhibitors and well-known guests
- Roc Marathon by Škoda (100.6 km), Friday 9 October: Cédrine Kerbaol and Paula Blasi Cairol on the start line
- 1,000 participants in Friday’s gravel, electric mountain bike and mountain bike events in the Estérel massif
- New: free shuttle buses from the Base Nature in Fréjus to the trail running and walking event starts, with booking required
Today on the Roc d'Azur CIC
After all events on Wednesday 7 October were cancelled when Météo-France placed the department under an orange weather alert, the 42nd Roc d’Azur CIC is finally under way. Today’s events took place with a few adjustments, and the exhibition opened to the public under the Côte d’Azur sunshine.
The day’s first event, the Garmin Roc Masters, set the tone with an exceptional start from Roquebrune-sur-Argens. Julien Saussac crossed the line first in the men’s race in 1h22′11″, while French masters champion Roxane Cutilla won the women’s race in 1h39′02″. The Enduroc, Enduroc électrique and Canyon Gravel Roc Sprint (33.2 km) also brought the day to life. This new, fast-paced format delivered a great spectacle. Maxime Croket won the men’s race solo in 1h14′12″, while Julia Aubry took victory in the women’s race in 1h35′29″.
See all the results
Tomorrow's highlights
he Roc’s biggest challenge, the Roc Marathon by Škoda, takes place on Friday 9 October. Its 100.6 km route, with 2,485 m of climbing, crosses all the key sectors of the Massif des Maures. Participants will set off in waves between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. Several familiar faces will be on the start line:
- France’s Cédrine Kerbaol: sixth in the latest Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and European mixed team time trial champion with the French national team.
- Spain’s Paula Blasi Cairol: winner of the 2026 Vuelta a España and fifth in the latest Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
- French mountain biker Luca Martin: winner of the 2026 Cross-country (XCO) World Cup.
There is no shortage of contenders for victory. Italians Gioele De Cosmo and Fabian Rabensteiner, second and sixth respectively in the long-distance event in 2025, are targeting the win, as is Colombia’s Hector Leonardo Paez Leon. Italy is also well represented in the women’s field, with Sandra Mairhofer, second in the Roc d’Azur CIC (55 km) in 2024, and Chiara Gualandi, third in the Roc d’Azur CIC in 2025.
Five gravel, electric mountain bike and mountain bike events will take place on Friday in the heart of the Estérel massif, starting and finishing in Agay, part of Saint-Raphaël. They will bring together 1,000 participants in total. The Canyon Rando Gravel Estérel (70.4 km), starting at 8 a.m., is on the programme alongside the rando bleue Estérel, rando bleue Estérel électrique, rando rouge Estérel and rando rouge Estérel électrique.
In the evening, Roc fever will take over the historic centre of Fréjus for the CIC Roc Ruelles de Fréjus (7 p.m.). This spectacular relay event is contested by teams of two. Pairs must complete as many laps as possible within a set time on a 1.2 km circuit: 20 minutes for qualifying and 15 minutes for the final. The children’s version, Kid Roc Ruelles, takes place at 7:30 p.m.
The Village
The Roc d’Azur CIC’s vast 45,000 m² exhibition opened to the public on Thursday 8 October. Several thousand people explored the stands at the Base Nature François Léotard. There is something for everyone: alongside the equipment on display, visitors can meet athletes and other well-known guests.
Julien Absalon, a two-time Olympic mountain bike champion, signed autographs at the Alltricks stand on Thursday afternoon. He will return on Friday (Alltricks stand) and Saturday (Ekoï stand). Former professional cyclists and TV commentators Steve Chainel and Yoann Offredo will also be at the Canyon stand on Friday and Saturday.
“I’m here until Sunday lunchtime. I’m taking part in three gravel events over three mornings. In the afternoons, I’ll be at the Canyon stand handing out goodies and presenting equipment and new products I’ve tested. Everyone meets up here. It’s a real pleasure,” says Canyon ambassador Steve Chainel.
Sharing experiences and knowledge is also central to the event. Panel discussions will take place over all four days. Marion Bunel, a member of the French national cycling team, will join a Tous en Selle discussion on Friday at 11:30 a.m. on the theme: “How can you balance a career in elite sport with your personal life?” A wide range of activities will also be on offer throughout the four days, including quizzes, a tyre-fitting challenge and a trials show.
The Commited Roc d'Azur CIC
Pink October: Gustave Roussy, Roc d’Azur CIC’s chosen charity
Pink October, the annual campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer screening and funds for research, is being highlighted at the Roc d’Azur CIC through Gustave Roussy Institute for the second consecutive year. The institute is the event’s chosen charity.
“Through its presence here, Gustave Roussy hopes to build a bridge between sport and health, while using the Roc d’Azur’s reach to raise awareness of the fight against cancer among a wide audience,” explains Romain Arnou, events manager at Gustave Roussy.
Free shuttles for trail runners and walkers
Accessibility is also a priority at the Roc d’Azur CIC. This year, Estérel Côte d’Azur Agglomération is providing shuttle buses between the Base Nature in Fréjus and the event start sites. They are available to participants and those accompanying them, with booking required.
Bike storage available
A bike storage facility is available at the Base Nature François Léotard from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bikes can be left there during the day or overnight. The cost is €2 per day and €5 per night.
Stat of the day
25
The number of nationalities on the start line
The Roc d’Azur CIC welcomes participants from around the world. Alongside French and Belgian riders, Italians are particularly well represented and often feature on the podiums, especially in the most competitive events, such as the Roc Marathon by Škoda and the Roc d’Azur CIC. In 2026, 25 nationalities are represented, up from 23 last year. It is a sign of the event’s international appeal and its ability to attract participants from a wide range of backgrounds.
