Roc d'Azur 2021

Roc d'Azur: The CDC Gravel Team

It's Roc d’Azur 2021 and the ‘True Grit’ Café du Cycliste team are taking part in the race.

Here at Café du Cycliste, it probably hasn’t gone unnoticed that we really like gravel, even more so when the cyclists mounting their saddles have hearts like warriors, afraid of nothing.

Showcasing women cyclists, our True Grit series has proven that, for them, the tougher the weather conditions, the muddier the terrain and the more treacherous the path, the more they excel. It’s in this spirit that the Café du Cycliste gravel team was formed, with women who stop at nothing and who are ready to throw themselves at these tough races. It’s only for the brave.

The Roc d’Azur Gravel acted as the launching ground for this adventure. The Roc d’Azur is a legendary French race, the biggest national gathering of mountain-biking racers: more than 20,000 participants and 32 nations represented, with 33 races over 4 days. It’s where the best in the world go head to head before the end of their season.

The Roc d’Azur Gravel is 65km with more than 1,500m of elevation gain. Our girls will need to give everything they’ve got. With three racers and three nationalities represented, the Café du Cycliste team set themselves apart on the start line by way of their energy.

Holly (United Kingdom), Charlotte (France) and Maria (Iceland) dance and move about, seeming to shake off the pressure, if there is any. What’s at stake? Isn’t the prize already won by giving it your best shot and enjoying the moment?

At Roc d’Azur, a crucial part of the race takes place at the beginning – good to know for next time. You need to be among the first racers to cross the river Argens to avoid having to put your foot down and wait for too long while the group navigates this difficulty. This is the time to see which groups will fly ahead and take the lead. Then, it’s all about putting your head down, overtaking cyclists one by one, and clawing back your position to get closer to the front-runners.

At 10 km, Charlotte puts her foot to the ground, tired out. A week of bronchitis has exhausted her, and it’s impossible to carry on. As for Holly, she battled with a puncture way too early on and it took too long to repair to get her close to a podium position.

Maria, having had to wait impatiently for too long over the Argens river, fights to push her way back through the positions. Being used to long races in often hellish conditions in Iceland, the cross-country national champion is, by the end, not a long way off from the top step of the podium – she finishes second after giving a beautiful performance.

This is just the start of a long-term project for Café du Cycliste. Our True Grit team will get going on more beautiful races next season.

Thanks to Sportograf for the images.

True Grit #1 - Maria

It’s a privilege to be able to go out your front door and suddenly be in an environment which is the perfect sample of Iceland’s nature.

True Grit #2 - Lucie

I escape with just the basics: a bottle, a survival kit, something to snack on, and then we’re off on the wild roads.

True Grit #3 - Karen

This ride is special for so many reasons. There are over 100 miles of gravel track to explore and the setting is absolutely stunning.

True Grit #4 - Imogen

We have a beautiful National Park at our doorstep. It has endless old forestry roads and lots of climbing and descending and plenty of challenges.

True Grit #5 - Emily

I live, work, and play in San Francisco, California; and am always in motion, be it cycling, mountaineering, or dancing.

True Grit #6 - Michelle

A gravel bike is the perfect way to explore the rural heart of Switzerland.