MTB

A long-term vision for the Roc

By A.S.O. / ROC D'AZUR

The Roc d'Azur will again roll out the red carpet for over 20,000 mountain bikers and 100,000 visitors to the François Léotard nature base in Fréjus on October 7–11, 2015.
The extension of its partnership with the host town in the Var to 2023 will fuel the development of the event.

Key points

• Partnership with Fréjus extended to 2023

• New features on certain courses and the programme

• Sport, activities and the Village: a winning combination

The adventure continues and so does the dream of every mountain biker. The Roc d'Azur, which came to Fréjus in 1997, will remain there at least until 2023. Amaury Sport Organisation, the organiser of the event, and the Fréjus Town Council reached an agreement to stick to their common course. "This long-term partnership will enable us to continue growing", explains a pleased Alexandre Maslin, the director of the Roc d'Azur. "It gives us lots of visibility and fits in perfectly with our ambition to continue developing the event and come up with new features. We can now be more relaxed as we lay the groundwork for the future."

The Roc d'Azur is going stronger than ever, with a record-breaking attendance of 20,035 participants and 100,000 visitors to the Village and the show last year. Staying true to the Roc's original spirit does not prevent its organisers from moving alongside, and sometimes ahead of, changes in the sport.

The 2015 edition will see the 40 km Rando Roc All Mountain (former Roc Challenge) starting and finishing in Roquebrune-sur-Argens and the 24 km Roc Light (replacing the Roc Pro) join the programme of races on Thursday. The Roc Dames, featuring some of the world's leading riders, will be switched from Saturday to Sunday to make sure the champions get clear courses and the visibility they deserve.

The courses will be revamped to provide new thrills, as is usually done every two years. "There won't be huge changes, but we've made a few adjustments", reveals sporting director Frédéric Salomone. "The key change is probably the return of La Flûte on Sunday's Roc d'Azur. We haven't been there since 2010. It's a fearsome section, with two super-steep kilometres at km 15 that come on the back of three kilometres of climbing at the foot of Le Fournel. Many will be scared."

There will be a new flavour for the courses, but the same excitement as always for the Village and the Show, which is almost chock-full already, with a packed activities programme and almost 300 exhibitors with their latest products in tow. A unique experience guaranteed… for many years to come!