The Calvi to Monaco Water Bike Challenge is making a triumphant return to the Mediterranean Sea on September 6th and 7th. This thrilling race 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 in the fastest time possible.
Originally starting from Nice to the Principality, the event is sponsored by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. It aims to raise awareness for the Foundation’s international anti-drowning initiatives and sport promotion programs, as well as to generate funds for its various charitable courses and projects.
Gareth Wittstock, General Secretary of the Princess Charlene Foundation and brother of Princess Charlene, recalls 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 or 13 km/h, demand significant mental and physical stamina. The race requires participants to take turns cycling, enduring all conditions and even pedalling through the night to reach the finish line within two days.
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, and South African sports icons John Smit and Percy Montgomery.
