- The 40th edition of Roc d’Azur CIC, from 9th to 13th October, in Fréjus (Var). Cross-triathlon (the nature version of the triathlon) three times world champion Arthur Serrières wins the Tri Roc, transformed into a duathlon. Marie Chipier triumphs in the women’s race.
- The Canyon Rando Gravel Roc 40 years: in the tracks of the pioneers.
- Le Village with its 300 exhibitors opens its doors.
- A CIC-sponsored educational booklet to help young people get to grips with cycling.
- Volunteers: the backbone of Roc d’Azur CIC.
- The Ford Roc Marathon will be the highlight on Friday, with 103 km to complete through the Massif des Maures mountains.
TODAY ON THE ROC D'AZUR
Under blue skies that made their return to Fréjus, though with gusting winds requiring several adjustments (notably the transformation of the Tri Roc into a duathlon), the second day at Roc d’Azur CIC offered great experiences to all participants, whether they were involved in competitions or rides. For all those who finished, there were plenty of smiles, most often shared with friends, just like the Pétalos du Jura, a team of eleven from Champagnole, some of whom took part as a couple on the Roc Tandem, or among colleagues, like the forty employees from an IT company who participated in the Rando Roc Altitude. “Our boss loves mountain biking, so he suggested we take this challenge”, said Gilles. “It’s a good thing he doesn’t like figure skating!” During the morning, the participants in the Canyon Rando Gravel Roc 40 years set off from Ramatuelle, in the area where, 40 years ago, seven pioneers set the ball rolling with the first Roc d’Azur. “It was incredible, right from the beginning with the start in Ramatuelle, which is a superb village,” said Germain Pelletier, from Compiègne. “The route was very varied, with magnificent viewpoints. In technical terms, the course was really true to the gravel spirit, not too difficult”. “It was a super route, with great landscapes and was wonderfully organised,” said Aurélie Couturier. “I come from Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer but I discovered loads of beautiful new places. Usually, it’s my husband and my children who take part in Roc d’Azur CIC, but I really wanted to give the gravel a go. It was an ideal warm-up before the Canyon Gravel Roc on Saturday. The Roc is a legendary race that every purist must at least do once in their lives. For the 40th anniversary, I wanted to be there”. From 10 AM onwards, the aisles of the event’s village also came alive with visitors and exhibitors in all its areas, delighted to be able to meet and chat again.
CHAMPIONS OF THE DAY
Arthur Serrières, the three times world champion in cross-triathlon, the nature version of the triathlon, won the Tri Roc with a time of 2:07’28’’, on completion of a 5-km run, 25.6 km on a mountain bike through the Massif des Maures mountains and a 10-km run through the nature base in Fréjus. The race was transformed into a duathlon because the rough seas did not make it possible to hold the swimming section in satisfactory safety conditions. As a result, the initially scheduled 1,500-m in the Mediterranean Sea was replaced by a 5-km run. “It was a great race,” delightedly declared the day’s winner. “The route is developing significantly each year. The standard is getting closer to the level on the world circuit. It’s the end of the season, with the sun, the French Riviera and all the event’s partners. I’m always glad to be able to come and have a good time here as well as winning the race. Roc d’Azur CIC is the essential event of the year in France. It’s always a good time”. Like everybody else, Arthur was in full support of the organisers’ decision. “The Tri Roc is a race for the general public and you cannot afford to send people into the sea with such waves and currents. Of course, everybody would like to swim, but it’s a case of safety first. What we want more than anything is to see plenty of people participating”. He finished 2’20’’ ahead of Jules Dumas, the winner of the previous two editions and former U23 cross-triathlon world champion, and Belgian Romain Loop. In the women’s race, Marie Chipier was victorious with a time of 2:41’38’’. The triathlete from the Rhône area and French long-distance champion in the 25 to 29 years-old category several weeks ago beat Bettina Innocenti and Stéphanie Vogel by four minutes.
STAT OF THE DAY - 1500
Some are there to hand out race number bibs, others are present at the refreshment points, whilst some help to welcome the crowds. Wherever you look, the volunteers’ smiles are one of the signatures of Roc d’Azur CIC. Like Claude and Jean-Claude, “the living history books of the Roc” who have been present since 1997, some volunteers have been present for twenty years. However, the next generation is already in place and every year, new members join the community. “Roc d’Azur CIC is like a family reunion between volunteers. It’s a big family that gets together every year,” says Jean-Michel Lopez, the event’s volunteer manager. “This year, for the first time, we even had 200 on the waiting list, with the eldest at the ripe old age of 90 years! The volunteers are the links in the chain that contributes to the success of the Roc. We have a volunteers’ association in Fréjus and the surrounding area that greatly contributes to the event. Everybody is happy to meet up again. The volunteer spirit is to give without expecting anything in return”.
FRIDAY'S PROGRAM
Almost 103 kilometres! It’s a record! This Friday, from 7.30, the participants in the Ford Roc Marathon will set off for the biggest adventure at Roc d’Azur CIC. It is more than just a race, it is a veritable epic. Several major names in the discipline will be on the starting line. Colombian Hector Leonardo Paez Leon, a regular podium finisher, Austrian Daniel Gesmayr (the winner in 2017 and 2019), Italians Samuele Porro (3rd last year, 1st in 2015 and 2018) and Fabien Rabensteiner, second at the marathon world cup and already a two times winner on the Roc Marathon in 2021 and 2022, should all be battling at the forefront of the race. In the women’s race, Loana Lecomte, who triumphed last Sunday in the world cup at Mont Sainte-Anne, will be tackling this challenge. Margo Moschetti, XC Marathon French champion in 2024 and two-times winner of the women’s Roc d'Azur (in 2014 and 2019), will also be taking starter’s orders, as will France’s Tatiana Tournut (2nd last year), Italian Sandra Mairhofer and German Adelheid Morath, all of whom are regulars on the world marathon circuit. Gravel rides in the Massif de l’Estérel mountains will also be worth watching this Friday, particularly the Canyon Rando Gravel Estérel 70 km (starting at 8.00 from Cap Estérel), as will the traditional and very spectacular CIC Roc Ruelles de Fréjus, in the heart of the old village, at 19.00.
