The Calvi to Monaco Water Bike Challenge is set to make a thrilling return to the Mediterranean Sea on September 6th and 7th. This exciting event will see five teams, each composed of four top athletes and celebrities, competing to traverse 180 kilometers of open sea from Calvi to Larvotto Beach in Monaco, aiming to complete the journey in the fastest time possible.
Originally beginning as a race from Nice to the Principality, the challenge is sponsored by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. The event seeks to raise awareness for the Foundation’s international anti-drowning initiatives and sport promotion programs, while also generating funds for its various charitable causes and projects.
Gareth Wittstock, General Secretary of the Princess Charlene Foundation and brother of Princess Charlene, reminisced about the event’s inception: “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.”
Water bikes, known for their stability and ability to reach speeds of about six knots (13 km/h), require significant mental and physical stamina. The non-stop nature of the race demands that participants take turns cycling, enduring all conditions, including pedaling by moonlight, to reach the finish line within two days.
Over the years, the challenge has attracted numerous VIPs from the sports and entertainment worlds. Notable participants have included Princess Charlene, Formula 1 legends David Coulthard and Felipe Massa, model Victoria Silvstedt, Irish fighter Conor McGregor, and South African sports icons John Smit and Percy Montgomery. The event promises to be a spectacular showcase of endurance, determination, and camaraderie.
