Roof rack for vehicles

The roof rack for motor vehicles includes a cross rail (14) with holding devices with movable holding elements (60,100) which can be brought into a fixed position relative to one another by a locking mechanism (132) which has a movable locking lever (134) which interacts with at least one of the holding elements in such a way that the locking lever in a released position allows an open position of the holding element. The locking lever can be brought through an unstable dead center position into a stable dead center position close to it in which the locking lever interacts with the holding element to fix it in position.