Upwards of 250 athletes expected at 2024 Cap d’Ail Triathlon

08/09/2024

In less than two weeks’ time, upwards of 250 athletes from the region and beyond will gather on the beach in Cap d’Ail for the 22nd edition of the town’s popular triathlon.

The Cap d’Ail Triathlon, with its Olympic-distance challenges and special event for children, will be returning for its 22nd edition on Sunday 15th September.

More than 250 athletes are expected at the event, as well as 50 children, who will be competing in a lighter format of the triathlon.

From La Marquet beach, participants in the main event will be taking on a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run. The triathlon will begin at 8am, while the children’s event, dubbed the Animathlon, will get going at 10.30am.

“The Cap d’Ail Triathlon, always very popular with athletes from the region and Italy, has seen the participation of 250 competitors for several years. This event is the sporting showcase of our city, labelled, since 2016, as an Active and Sports City,” says Xavier Beck, Mayor of Cap d’Ail.

For more information about the event, click here.

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Photo source: Kate Bezzubets, Unsplash

900 Monégasques gather under the olive trees for ‘U Cavagnëtu’

by: Cassandra Tanti

08/09/2024

Nearly 900 Monégasques gathered around the Princely couple, their children, and several members of the Princely family at Parc Princesse Antoinette on Saturday for the traditional Monegasque picnic, ‘U Cavagnëtu’.

Mayor Georges Marsan, joined by members of the local council, welcomed the Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, officially opening this much-loved annual event that is a highlight of the local community calendar.

After the traditional presentation of bouquets and a welcome from the dancers of La Palladienne, an open-air mass was celebrated by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David. The choir U Cantin d’A Roca also performed several traditional songs following the Monegasque National Anthem.

After the ceremony, Monégasques gathered around tables set beneath the olive trees, enjoying a feast of socca, barbecues, drinks, ice creams, and traditional Monegasque fougasse, all provided by the Monaco City Hall, alongside the ‘cavagnëtu’ (picnic baskets) that many had prepared for the occasion. As in previous years, fresciœi di baccalà – cod fritters, a Ligurian speciality – were freshly cooked on-site, as part of the continued partnership with the town of Dolceacqua.

Attendees danced the night away at a grand ball held on the multisport field, while children participated in a fun workshop where they crafted small baskets. The musical atmosphere in the park’s walkways was brought to life by a jazz quartet led by Lionel Vaudano, a professor at the Rainier III Academy, along with a performance from the U Cantin d’A Roca choir.

The special evening, which marks the end of summer each year, is designed to celebrate the spirit of the Monegasque community.

Main photo source: Mairie dde Monaco, Ed Wright Images

Photos: Princess Charlene on the beach to welcome Water Bike Challenge winners Lionheart

by: Elsa Carpenter

08/09/2024

Following an epic at-sea battle of will and determination, Team Lionheart has taken the win at the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s 2024 Water Bike Challenge. The Princess, alongside Prince Albert II of Monaco, was on the beach in Larvotto to welcome the winners and celebrate the efforts of all the teams that competed in the Calvi to Monaco race.

On the morning of Friday 6th September, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene travelled to the French island of Corsica to wave off the first round of water bikers from the Quai d’Honneur in Calvi’s historic marina.

From there, the five teams spent the next 24 hours working in relay to cover the 180 kilometres between the island and the shores of Monaco. Team Lionheart took the initial lead, but were soon overtaken by Team Serenity, with Team Rock to Rock fast on their heels.

See more: F1’s Valtteri Bottas signs up for Princess Charlene Foundation’s Calvi to Monaco Water Bike Challenge

These three teams jostled for the lead for the first half of the race, with mere metres between the competitors at certain stages, but the gap between them and Team U17 and Team Ferrari had narrowed significantly by midway, and there was still everything to play for as the day turned to night.

As the Principality of Monaco came into sight on the morning of Saturday 7th September, it was Team Lionheart, made up of Olympic gold-medal winning mountain biker Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, former professional cyclist turned owner of Vélo Monaco Gustav Larsson, professional cyclist Harvey Bird and Brandon Green, an environmental activist and the son of Monaco-based Philip and Tina Green, who were upfront. Green ultimately brought his team in to victory on Larvotto Beach, where he was greeted by the Princely couple and cheers from the crowds and cheerleaders who had assembled on its sands.

Team Rock to Rock took second place, followed by Team Serenity, Team Ferrari and Team U17.

The event was all about raising the profile of the various programmes and initiatives run by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in the Principality and around the world, and support poured in in the run-up to and following the event. As of Sunday afternoon, close to €290,000 had been donated, with the final tally still to be formally announced.

To make a donation to any of the five teams who took part, or to donate directly to the foundation, visit the website by clicking here.

To watch how the race unfolded, click here.

For more photos of the Princess Charlene Foundation’s 2024 Water Bike Challenge, click on the images below: