Pauline Ferrand-Prévot unstoppable, a record for Jordan Sarrou

Fréjus, October 9^th 2022

2022 ROC D’AZUR

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot unstoppable, a record for Jordan Sarrou

The day after winning the world gravel title in Italy, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won the Roc d’Azur this Sunday in Fréjus (Var). In the men’s race, Jordan Sarrou set a Roc d’Azur record with his fourth win. A genuine French spectacle in the 38th edition that was hailed by all.

Key points:

·         Double French triumph with Jordan Sarrou’s fourth win and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s second

·         Romain Bardet came first and foremost to have fun

·         Successful start for the rides in the Esterel range and the inclusion of the trail to the Roc d’Azur programme

·         Extremely high attendance at the expo, with nearly 300 exhibitors

·         See you in October 2023 for the 39th edition of the Roc d’Azur

©A.S.O./Aurélien Vialatte

The life of a champion is not easy, especially when your name is Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The last 24 hours are proof of that. On Saturday afternoon, in Veneto, in the north-east of Italy, she won a UCI gravel world champion title, the first in the history of the discipline, and her fourth in two months after those of the XCO cross-country, the short track and the XCO marathon. Once the various demands and obligations were over, it was off to the car for a six-hour and thirty-minute journey, to bed at 2:30 am, to wake up at 5:30 am and to be on the starting line of the Roc d’Azur at 8:30 am. And less than three hours later, a triumph on the Roc d’Azur, her second after the one in 2017, without ever being troubled! “It was important for me to be at the Roc d’Azur to thank the French public,” she explains. “I really wanted to race on my training tracks with this world champion’s jersey. It was a challenge to be there at the start, but I had prepared myself mentally for it. I started in the middle of the pack to see how my legs were feeling. And on the first climb, I went to the front. I am on cloud nine, I feel so good these days, and I just do what I do.” Italian riders Martina Berta and Giada Specia were respectively second and third, nearly ten minutes behind.

And 1, and 2, and 3… and 4 for Jordan Sarrou

This was also a historic edition in the men’s category, with Jordan Sarrou’s fourth title after those won in 2014, 2016 and 2019. The 2020 world champion, 6th in the recent world championships, also led for most of the race. “Winning the Roc d’Azur for the fourth time is mountain bike history,” he says. “It was my objective for the end of the season. I pushed hard early in the race. After Fournel, I accelerated hard. The gap was created, and I didn’t let up. Even though it was raining, the tracks were sandy, so it wasn’t slippery, and we had good traction. I had a blast, and it’s awesome to finish like this.” In 2h25:05 seconds, he finished two minutes ahead of his compatriot Hugo Drechou, winner on Friday of the Ford Roc Marathon (92 km) and leader in the UCI Marathon series, Germany’s Andreas Seewald. The third-highest-finishing French rider, Thibaud Saint-Guilhem, took a fine 8^th place.

Romain Bardet: “I so much enjoyed the Roc d’Azur”

Romain Bardet also travelled from Italy during the night after finishing 9th in the Giro di Lombardia, and he too had a big smile on his face at the finish line when he was toasting with a friend. “Unlike last year when I rode hard, this year I took my time”, explained the DSM rider. “I enjoyed myself a little bit on the first climb by coming back to the front, but then I changed my approach. We stopped at the refreshment station. I had a great time on the Roc d’Azur.” Last but not least, in the Roc Trophy (one race each day since Wednesday), the victories of Norway’s Martin Røste Omdahl and French multi-sport raid rider Pauline Queval.

A highly positive assessment

The rain on Sunday did not spoil the overall assessment of the 38th edition of the Roc d’Azur. ” Although we had a great event last year, this edition is a huge success”, says Pascal Quatrehomme, Roc d’Azur director, “The participants were able to rediscover the joys of the Roc d’Azur, with many newcomers. The local community was delighted to welcome us. The Roc is returning to what it was like before covid. Our two additions went extremely well. On the trail, everything went according to plan in the races around the Rocher de Roquebrune, which is an extraordinary place. The feedback from the participants on the Esterel has also been outstanding. Starting this Monday, we will start thinking about the 2023 edition to continue this dynamic.”

The Estérel and the trail, the two popular new events for 2022

The discovery of the Estérel range has been a major project of the Roc d’Azur for several years. The 2022 edition is the culmination of this project, with three mountain bike rides and the Canyon Roc Gravel Estérel on the programme. The option given to participants in the Rando Roc Estérel to adapt their distance to the day (22 km, 28 km or 45 km) was also widely appreciated. 

The 700 riders who entered the three Roc Trail (16 km, 32 km, 42 km) shared the same satisfaction. The champion of the discipline, Julien Chorier, winner of the 32 km and present on the Roc Trail to finish his preparation for the Grand Raid de la Réunion, even said he was “impressed by the organisation” and totally captivated by the landscapes of the Argens valley.

The expo lives up to its reputation

During its four days of operation, the expo, with nearly 300 exhibitors and daily activities, regained all the zeal and passion that have made it a must-visit venue for all, whether they are hardcore enthusiasts, amateurs or simply visitors. “The success of the expo is undeniable”, enthuses Pascal Quatrehomme. “We didn’t have a square metre left. With nearly 300 exhibitors, it’s quite enormous. Our exhibitors and partners have finally found material to sell and can take orders, and their feedback is also quite positive.”

THE WOMEN’S PODIUM

THE MEN’S PODIUM

1.     Pauline Ferrand-Prévot 02’52’’34

2.     Martina Berta 03’01’’57

3.     Giada Specia 03’07’’27

1.     Jordan Sarrou 02’25’’05

2.     Hugo Drechou 02’27’’27

3.     Andreas Seewald 02’28’’01

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For more information : rocazur.com

Press contacts :

Press officer A.S.O.

Marie Bonnet

mbonnet@aso.fr / + 33 7 89 31 57 38

Agence Aurélia Filho

Aurélia Filho

aurelia@agenceafc.com / +33 7 85 82 89 72

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