On June 19 and 20, endurance sport will meet the open sea as up to 10 teams of four athletes each set out on an ambitious 225-kilometre water bike crossing from Viareggio to Monaco.
Over the course of nearly 24 hours, competitors will relay continuously across the Mediterranean aboard innovative, fully human-powered water bikes. Combining physical endurance, tactical coordination, and unwavering team spirit, the challenge promises to push athletes to their limits both day and night.
Engineered for performance and stability, the cutting-edge water bikes glide silently across the water, offering a striking blend of technology and athleticism. Teams are free to rotate riders as often as they choose, with relay strategy expected to play a decisive role throughout the crossing.
Courtesy Fondation Princesse Charlène on Instagram – video by terremair
Under race regulations, team compositions must remain unchanged once the event begins. Rider rotations may take place freely throughout the night within the designated relay window, adding an additional layer of strategy to one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive endurance events.
The event will culminate in Monaco, where the public will be invited to witness the arrival and celebrate the athletes’ achievement after their demanding overnight journey.
More than a sporting competition, The Crossing reflects the values championed by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, using sport as a force to unite people through perseverance, resilience, and shared purpose.
About Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco
Founded by H.S.H. Princess Charlene, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation is dedicated to creating a world where children, regardless of background, can grow up safely, flourish through education, and learn the values of living together through sport. At the heart of the Foundation’s mission lies a dual commitment: preventing drowning and promoting child development through the positive power of sport.
Having witnessed firsthand the tragic realities of drowning and recognising the transformative impact sport can have on individuals and communities alike, Princess Charlene established the Foundation on December 14, 2012, with the ambition of creating greater opportunities for children around the world.
Through its Learn to Swim and Water Safety programmes, the Foundation delivers both practical and theoretical training designed to reduce preventable accidents and combat drowning worldwide.
Alongside its safety initiatives, the Foundation strongly believes in the unifying and transformative role of sport. Sport has the ability to inspire, foster resilience and compassion, and positively influence not only individuals, but entire families and communities. Through its Sport & Education programme, the Foundation organises sporting initiatives and encourages young people to embrace physical activity as a path toward confidence, discipline, and well-being.
Since its creation, the Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco has continued to support and fund educational and humanitarian projects internationally, using sport as a powerful tool for protection, inclusion, and hope.
PHOTO CREDITS
- All images courtesy Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco
- Instagram post as credited
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