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Month: September 2020

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar wins Tour de France

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/09/2020

The Tour de France ended Sunday with a win by young Slovenian racer Tadej Pogacar. Meanwhile, three Monaco-based cyclists had their time in the spotlight during the world famous race.

This year saw masked teams being presented at the opening ceremonies in Nice, a positive coronavirus test for Director of the Tour Christian Prudhomme, and a surprise win by a relative unknown.

In a Tour de France filled with odd moments, one thing is for sure: there is a new set of young guns who have hit the scene and are making road racing exciting again.

Tadej Pogacar, the first Slovenian to win the yellow jersey and the youngest winner of the Tour de France in a century, has made his dream come true on the eve of his 22nd birthday, which he celebrated on Monday.

Monaco residents Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett and Richie Porte all had their days in the sun, as well along the way.

26-year-old Australian sprinter Ewan, who currently rides for UCI World team Lotto-Soudal, won podium victories at stages three and 11. In stage three, he blasted past Bennett at the last second for the top spot and had an equally narrow win in stage 11 showing his determination and a bit of flair for the dramatic.

Sam Bennett, the 29-year-old Irish cyclist who races for UCI World team Deceuninck-Quick Step, took to the podium twice as well, at stages three and five. He also took the green jersey in this stage, becoming the first Irishman to do so since Sean Kelly in 1989. 

Meanwhile, Monaco-based Richie Porte became only the second Australian to secure a podium finish at cycling’s biggest race.
The 35-year-old’s bid looked under threat when his bike got a puncture towards the end of stage 18, one of the toughest of this year’s 21 stages. But the race’s final three stages proved smooth-sailing and Porte finished third.
 
 

Roca team launches season

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/09/2020

Players and representatives of AS Monaco Basketball have announced the 2020-21 season by introducing new players and showing off their new kit.

Roca Team players and management gathered at the Yacht Club of Monaco on Friday 18th September to officially unveil their new season.

Team Captain Dee Bost had the honour of presenting the team’s new jersey for the season while Executive Director Oleksiy Yefimov revealed the signing of Mathias Lessort, formerly at Bayern Munich, and the replacement for Vladimir Stimac who departed for the Chinese championships.

Mathias Lessort said during the press conference that he is delighted with the move, adding, “I am particularly motivated to join a very good team from Monaco. Back in 2017, I was not far from coming to play on the Rock and I am very satisfied to come and work under Coach Mitrovic with whom I have often been in contact. Monaco has great ambitions and we will meet the challenge together. The Euroleague has been a very enriching experience. It only makes sense to return to this competition with AS Monaco.”

The basketball season kicks off on Wednesday 23rd September with a Jeep Elite game against Boulogne-Levallois.
 
Photo © Stephane Danna
 
 

210kg waste collected on World Clean Up Day

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/09/2020

Prince Albert has set an example in Monaco and taken part in World Clean Up Day with his children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
On Saturday 19th September, Monaco held its second edition of World Clean Up Day in the streets of the Principality.
The waste collection and public awareness event was organised at the initiative of Sébastien Uscher and the Stand Up for the Planet association, in partnership with the Mairie de Monaco, Decathlon Monaco, the Mission for the Energy Transition of the Princely Government, the Monegasque Sanitation Society and the Eco-Angels (Stars n’Bars).
Around a hundred people took part in four cleaning projects that were carried out in the Principality and surrounding municipalities, which yielded 210 kilogrammes of waste.
 
Click on the photos below to enlarge…


© Photos: Eric Mathon / Princely Palace
 
 
 

New Italian Ambassador

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/09/2020

Giulio Alaimo has presented his credentials as the new Ambassador of Italy to Prince Albert.
After the ceremony on 16th September, Mr Alaimo was received by Minister of State Pierre Dartout in his residence for a lunch chaired by the Sovereign.
Giulio Alaimo graduated at the University of Rome La Sapienza in Political Science and began his diplomatic career in 1991. He worked at the General Department of Economic Affairs and continued his diplomatic work in various directorates before he was appointed in 2007 as First Advisor for Emigration and Social Affairs in Ottawa, then in Paris in 2009. From 2013, he exercisedhis duties at the General Department of Promotion of Sistema Paese. He also acted as Commissioner General for the Milan Worldwide Exposition in 2015. He was appointed first class Consul General in Zurich in 2016.
Giulio Alaimo steps in to the role previously held by Cristiano Gallo.
Photo Credit: Gaetan Luci / Princely Palace
 

Business climate continues to decline

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/09/2020

The latest survey by IMSEE has revealed that the business climate continued to weaken in July, though retail trade and the auto commerce and repair sectors saw slight improvements.

The Principality’s official statistical agency reports that business in Monaco was still down as of July, but small improvements in certain sectors were recorded. The synthetic indicator won five points, accredited mainly to the yearly summer sales in July and higher intention of orders.

The balance of opinion on the general outlook for business continues to decline slightly and remains well below normal. Sales balances, after a brutal June which showed their lowest levels, did show a clear, though small, improvement.

Despite the rebound, expected sales are trending low and remain well below average. Inventory levels have fallen compared to long-term averages, whilst order intentions are improving, though at a lower level.

Prices are rising, and the forecast is that this will continue, while employment remains comparable to that of the previous month.

Customers’ payment deadlines are up compared to January when it was down by 23%, whilst those of the suppliers are growing more moderately, though again, below usual averages.

According to the report, people are still avoiding actively going into shops, as is displayed by low levels of attendance due to the health crisis. This is the same situation as the last two months.

 

 

Nice tightens restrictions

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/09/2020

The City of Nice has taken further action to limit the rapid spread of Covid-19, toughening rules on socialising and bars.
Faced with a resurgence of the Covid-19 epidemic, Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes Bernard Gonzalez held a press conference on Friday, during which Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi outlined new restrictions.
He announced that gatherings of more than 10 people are now banned in parks, beaches and gardens, while Mr Gonzalez reminded families to “protect its most fragile” members.
Bars and other drinking establishments will now have to close their doors from 12.30am. Any music that is amplified outdoors is not allowed.
Large events have a limit of 1,000 people as opposed to the 5,000 maximum previously imposed, and there will also be systematic temperature checks at events and shows.
Finally, the sale of alcohol in stores after 8pm has been banned in an effort to prevent people from drinking in public.
The news comes as the French government asked the Rhône and the Alpes-Maritimes prefects on Thursday to present by Saturday new local measures to curb the circulation of the virus and limit its impact on the health system. France’s Health Minister Olivier Veran said that the Alpes-Maritimes department had nearly reached its limit of available hospital beds.
The new restrictions took effect on Friday.