Even though the scenario was the same as last year with a sprint finish (victory in 2010 by the Austrian Alban Lakata), the players have changed this time on the men’s side. For the women, the untouchable Polish competitor once again captured the trophy.
ROC MEN
After 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 36 seconds spent on the trails of the Massif des Maures, the German cross-country champion Moritz Milatz won his first Roc d’Azur (56 km) by narrowly defeating the Swiss Christoph Sauser, 35, who was dreaming of a double win after his Marathon success (83 km) on Friday (the Belgian Roel Paulissen had achieved this double in 2008 and 2009), and most importantly, becoming the first to win three Roc d’Azur titles.
The young (22-year-old) Belgian Sébastien Carabin completed the podium (1st in the Espoirs category). An unexpected result for him. “It’s just incredible,” he exclaimed, his eyes wide open.
ROC WOMEN
Once again, she was untouchable. Already victorious last year, the Polish Maja Wloszczowska triumphed again in the 2011 edition of the Roc Women. Starting at the front, the 27-year-old Polish, Olympic silver medalist in Beijing, 2010 world champion (2nd in 2011), 2003 marathon world champion, and 2009 European champion among other accolades, raced alongside the Swiss Nathalie Schneitter for a long duration.
At the summit of Bougnon, Wloszczowska extended her effort to definitively shake off her main competitor. The gap grew over the kilometers to reach nearly three minutes as they entered the chemin des Douaniers, about five kilometers from the finish.
