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.
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.
Read more: Boxer Oleksandr Usyk to lead Team U17 at Princess Charlene Foundation’s Water Bike Challenge
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:
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Photo credits: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco / Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department