The Roc Laissagais is more than just a marathon race, it’s a whole festival with events for kids, families, gourmands and more. In 2016 the race hosted the XCM World Championships. Before receiving the UEC Marathon European Championship in 2023, Roc Laissagais will once again host the first European round of the UCI Marathon Series on the 4th and 5th of April 2020. There will be two different races: 90 kms / 3370 D+ for the men and 70 kms / 2800+ for the women.
For the first time, the spectators will be able to see the mountain bikers cross the finish line before the final loop. All the best world riders have already confirmed their presence at the 29th Roc Laissagais.
A lot of different races are included in this mountain bike celebration in Aveyron: Ramblings, Gravel, Endurance race, Young races…
The event takes place in Laissac which is a small village about 30 minutes east of Rodez. Laissac is in the Aveyron region which is located in the north of the Pyrenees region of southern France and is named after the Aveyron River.
Laissac is not an alpine town, although it is in the Midi-Pyrenees. That means the climbs aren’t long, but instead they are punchy, with changing speeds, gradients, terrain and direction. Descents are fast, flowy and rewarding.
The nearest airports are Toulouse and Montpellier, both about 2 hours drive from Laissac. There are plenty of accommodation options either in the nearby city of Rodez or in the surrounding countryside. Should you decide to visit be sure to stay an extra couple of days, Aveyron has plenty to keep you amused, whether it be amazing scenery or fantastic cycling routes.