The Crossing is back. The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s flagship sporting challenge returns on 19th and 20th June with a brand-new 225-kilometre water bike route linking Viareggio to Monaco — the most ambitious edition of the event since its launch in 2020.

Teams of four elite athletes will depart from the Viareggio Yacht Club on Friday 19th June, taking turns on the water over nearly 24 hours of continuous racing before arriving at Larvotto Beach in Monaco on Saturday 20th June. Exact departure and arrival times will be confirmed 48 hours in advance.

Through Europe’s largest marine sanctuary

This year’s edition introduces an environmental dimension that sets it apart from previous crossings. The route passes through the Pelagos Marine Sanctuary — a 87,500-square-kilometre territory forming a triangle between France, Italy and Monaco, and the largest marine area dedicated to the protection of marine mammals in Europe. Established in 1999, the sanctuary is home to dolphins, fin whales and other iconic Mediterranean species, making the race as much a statement of environmental commitment as a test of athletic endurance.

See also: Interview: Gareth Wittstock on ‘The Crossing’ and this year’s celebrity participants

The cause behind the challenge

Organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation since 2020, The Crossing combines sport with social purpose — raising awareness and funds for the Foundation’s work in swimming education, drowning prevention and the promotion of the human values of sport. The Foundation operates across 45 countries and has reached more than two million beneficiaries worldwide.

Details of the team members are expected to be revealed over the coming weeks.

A donation platform and real-time race tracking will be available to the public throughout the event, allowing supporters to follow the crossing and contribute to the Foundation’s mission as it unfolds.

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Photo: Gareth Wittstock undertaking The Crossing. Source: Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation