The fourth edition of The Calvi to Monaco Water Bike Challenge race returns to the Mediterranean sea this September 6th and 7th.
The challenge organised by The Princess Charlene Foundation will include five teams of four athletes, who will cross the 180 km on open sea, in the fastest time possible, between Calvi, in Corsica, and the Principality.
This exciting race on water bikes demands tremendous stamina, both mental and physical. For around 24 hours, including through the night, the teams consisting of top athletes, celebrities and Monaco locals will cycle in a relay from the Quai d’Honneur in the port of Calvi to the finish line at Larvotto beach next to the Académie de la Mer.
Teams
Participants include the ‘Serenity’ team, with Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, Slovakian cyclist Peter Sagan and Gareth Wittstock, Princess Charlene’s brother and Secretary General of the Fondation Princess Charlène de Monaco, who is organising the challenge.
French cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, entrepreneur Brandon Green, Swedish cyclist Gustav Larsson and Harvey Bird, form the ‘Lionheart’ team.
Alexandre Baccili, Jacopo Marzocco, Jean-Baptiste Pastor and Anthony Roustan are the ‘Rock to Rock’ team.
The ‘Ferrari’ team will be made up in part of Italian drivers, Antonio Giovinazzi, Francesco Castellacci, Allessandro Pierguidi, as well as Guido Giovanelli from the BPM group.
Last but not least, the ‘U17’ team is made up of boxers Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Lapin, as well as Dmytro Kovalenko and Nicolas Fache, who will be taking on the others on the water-bikes. May the best team win!
How to watch the crossing in live action
The 20 competitors are due to set off from the quai d’honneur in the port of Calvi at September 6th.
It will take almost 24 hours to cover the distance and reach the Larvotto beach near the Académie de la Mer in Monaco the following day.
The Calvi-Monaco Crossing race will be live in real time accessible from Princess Charlene Foundation Website
How to watch the Calvi departure and Monaco arrival
Join the Calvi departure: The departure is scheduled for 10am on September 6th on the port of Calvi Corsica.
Join the Monaco arrival: The arrival is scheduled for around UPDATED 8.30am 9am on Saturday 7th September on Larvotto beach at the Rose des Vents restaurant.
Kindly note times are subject to weather conditions.
How did it start?
Gareth Wittstock, General Secretary of the Princess Charlene Foundation and brother of Princess Charlene, shares: “Many years ago, we started throwing around the daunting idea of organizing a fundraising sporting event like no other: the crossing of the Mediterranean on water bikes. This evolved into the Riviera Water Bike Challenge, which took place in 2017 between Nice and Monaco and in 2018 in Monaco. In 2020, the global pandemic prevented us from organizing the Riviera Water Bike Challenge, which brings together a large number of participants. At that point, the original idea of the crossing resurfaced and became Calvi-Monaco.”
Princess Charlene Foundation
The Mediterranean crossing is organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, and aims to raise awareness about learning to swim, drowning prevention and sporting values.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, established on December 14, 2012, primarily aims to save lives by combating drowning. Its missions include raising public awareness about water dangers, teaching children preventive measures, and providing swimming lessons. The foundation implements the “Learn to Swim” and “Water Safety” programs globally.
Additionally, the foundation promotes sports values such as discipline, self-respect, respect for others, effort, and teamwork. Through its “Sport & Education” program, it uses sports activities to support the well-being and development of children.
