Princess Charlene's Water Bike Race Crosses the Pelagos Sanctuary
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Seven teams competed in the Foundation Princess Charlene of Monaco's Crossing Water Bike Challenge, setting off from Viareggio on 19 June for a 24-hour race across the Mediterranean.
Princess Charlene sounded an air horn in Viareggio, Italy, on Friday 19 June to send seven teams racing across the Mediterranean in the Foundation Princess Charlene of Monaco's annual Crossing Water Bike Challenge. The 24-hour endurance race traverses the Pelagos Sanctuary, the protected marine area shared by Monaco, France and Italy that is home to fin whales, dolphins and other cetaceans.
The event combines competitive sport with a clear conservation message, drawing attention to the fragile ecosystem of the Ligurian Sea at a time when shipping traffic and marine pollution remain pressing concerns for the Principality. The Foundation has used the race format in previous years to raise funds and awareness around water safety, causes that remain central to Princess Charlene's public work.
Results from this year's edition confirmed that teams completed the crossing within the allotted window, though full standings were not immediately available at the time of publication. The race route, passing through internationally recognised protected waters, underlines the cross-border nature of Monaco's environmental commitments beyond the Principality's own coastline.