A record-busting 15 teams are now signed up for the 2022 edition of the Riviera Water Bike Challenge charity event, organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation to support their water safety programme for children in Sri Lanka. Here’s who will be battling it out this year.
The Rivera Water Bike Challenge (RWBC) has a new format this year and has managed to attract a huge number of participants, including many celebrity names, all for a good cause.
The last edition saw racers journey from Calvi, Corsica, to the Principality. This year, the race will be set up so spectators can enjoy all the fun from the Solarium of the Digue Rainier III from 10am Sunday 5th June as participants do a relay race in the Port of Monaco.
The teams will depart from the Yacht Club of Monaco and will run the set course of approximately 25 kilometres.
A draw held on 18th May at the Yacht Club of Monaco selected two celebrities to be part of each of the 15 teams competing. They are as follows:
Team Serenity, winning team from 2018 and already drawn, with Mark Webber, David Tanner, Terence Parkin and Caleb Ewan
Team Yacht Club de Monaco – with Pernilla Wiberg and Sofiane Boukichou
Team Mareterra – with Dan Luger and Kaiden Keyser
Team Special Olympics – with Gustavo Menezes and Cesc Fabregas
Team AMAO (Monegasque Association of Olympic Athletes) – with Jack Doohan and Victoria Silvstedt
Team AS Monaco FC – with Andrew Cotton and Bryan Habana
Team Lionheart – with Paula Radcliffe and Boris Vain
Team Monaco Cavaliers – with Kevin Crovetto and Egan Bernal
Team Interpadel – with Dee Bost and Bjorn Maaseide
Team Blitz – with Marco Holzer and Mika Häkkinen
Team U Cignale – with Dakota Schuetz and Filippo Pozzato
Team CMB – with Antti Vierula and Alexandra Bilodeau
Team Orestes – with Pierre Frolla and Muriel Hurtis
Team Metabolic Balance – with Marlene Harnois and Rudy Rinaldi
Team Beefbar – with Jérôme Fernandez and Frederik Paulsen
The public will be able to follow the race in real-time on a dedicated feed found at www.fpcm.mc/live.
Proceeds from the event will go to fund the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s ‘Swim for Safety’ project in Sri Lanka to teach swimming and water safety to disadvantaged children leading up to the next World Conference on Drowning Prevention in 2023.
Photo by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department
AS Monaco manager Philippe Clement has revealed that guaranteed qualification to the Europa League has eased the pressure going into Saturday’s game, saying that the team has “nothing to lose”.
For the first time all season, Philippe Clement’s side go into a match as an occupant of a podium spot; it is the first time that they are the hunted and not the hunter. Only one match remains to defend their position. It is reasonable to assume that under such circumstances, the pressure is mounting on the players to deliver, but Clement revealed that the opposite is in fact true.
“It’s the first time we have nothing to lose,” he began. “We have already secured Europa League football. That was a club objective at the start of the season. It hasn’t been easy catching up to get to this point. Now there are extra things that we can win on Saturday. That is different from earlier months,” he concluded.
Questioned by Monaco Life as to whether that means that a Champions League qualification will have meant that they have surpassed expectations, the former Club Brugge coach replied, “I don’t know because nobody told me that if we didn’t get onto the podium then it’s a bad season. That’s never been said here.”
He continued, “You have to look at the entire season. The club lost too many points in the first 60-70% of games of the season. We lost too many points in that period. It’s good that everyone has reacted at the end and done good things.”
Before heading up to Lens for what Clement rightly described as a “decisive” fixture, the side were joined by Dimitry Rybolovlev at the club’s training ground on Thursday. He observed training alongside the technical director James Bunce, whilst sporting director Paul Mitchell was also present during the session at La Turbie.
“Rybolovlev said he was happy with everyone’s work, and encouraged us ahead of Saturday’s match,” said Clement. “We are happy to be able to count on his support and that has always been the case since I’ve been here,” he added.
The presence and support of their owner isn’t the only thing that has buoyed them ahead of the trip up north. Youssouf Fofana in particular revealed that Wednesday’s open training session at the Stade Louis II had given them “energy,” whilst Clement is also looking at the longer-term impacts of the event.
He told Monaco Life, “Seeing our supporters can give us a lot of energy for the future. Lots of children came to see us. As the tickets for the Lens match sold out so quickly, they won’t necessarily be able to attend the match, but I’m sure they’ll watch on the big screen at the Stade Louis II. To have more supporters inside the ground, supporting the players is certainly one of my objectives for the future.”
But it is AS Monaco’s short-term success that may determine whether such objectives can be met. The allure of Champions League football at the Stade Louis II cannot be understated, and a draw against Lens would suffice to achieve it, although a victory would ensure safe passage to the group stages without needing to pass through the perilous play-offs: a hurdle at which Monaco stumbled this season. Although there are many scenarios and different moving parts going into this final weekend, the reality is that Monaco’s destiny is in their own hands: a position that Clement and Monaco clearly relish.
Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
Esteban Gutierrez: “It was a dream to drive this car in Monaco”
The weekend’s Historic GP was a nostalgic, exciting event, not least for the drivers. As former F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez told Monaco Life, they relish the chance to test themselves in these iconic cars, on this legendary circuit.
In an interview with Monaco Life after his race, Gutierrez opened up about the strong, often contrasting emotions that driving an iconic single-seater around the streets of Monte-Carlo elicits.
Gutierrez has had a varied professional racing career. After amassing 38 race starts in Formula 1 for Sauber, the Mexican driver then became the test driver for Scuderia Ferrari, before rejoining the Formula 1 grid with Haas in 2016. In a highly uncompetitive Haas, Gutierrez struggled, and the following year he tried his hand in Formula E.
He then joined Mercedes F1 team as a development and then reserve driver, and now competes in FIA Endurance World Championship. At the age of just 30, Gutierrez has amassed a wealth of experience in a variety of different cars, but as he told Monaco Life, taking the wheel of Pedro Rodriquez’s 1970 Belgian Grand Prix-winning BRM was one of the most special experiences of his career.
“It is definitely in the top three cars I have driven. I drove Michael Schumacher’s 2003 Ferrari car, which was an incredible experience, and then I drove the 2016 Mercedes, the most successful car in the history of Formula 1. That was also incredible,” he said.
Racing the car of his late compatriot around some of the most iconic streets in the world was special, he says. “It’s an honour to be here representing my country, driving Pedro’s (Rodriguez) car. To be driving this car, and especially here in Monaco, I never thought it was going to be possible. It just came together, and it was really fun to drive; an incredible experience.”
An incredible experience, but also a challenging one, and on the unforgiving streets of Monaco no less, where no mistake goes unpunished. That risk factor is only intensified when coupled with a lack of preparation time with the machinery itself. “I tested it on a small track at an airport. Luckily, I could test it for a couple of laps to get used to the gears,” revealed Gutierrez. “That was the most challenging part to do the hill and toll. It is something I’m not used to, lately of course with the modern cars is no longer part of driving. It was really interesting and here in Monaco it’s really fun; you have basically no margin for error in that respect.”
He added, “When you arrive at practice, you’re new to the car and you’re not used to it. There are lots of new things. It’s very mechanical, but it’s very physical as well. One of the beauties of the car is that it doesn’t give you any time to think about anything else, you have to live in the moment and you’re very busy with the gears and it’s just amazing when you get everything right.”
Photo of Esteban Gutierrez by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
It is not just the technical aspect, dealing with the very visible oversteer and a way of driving that is alien to many modern motorsport drivers, but also the psychological aspect, as Gutierrez revealed.
“It’s not only hard, the approach is completely different,” he explained. “You get in the car and you know you’re vulnerable. In the back of your mind, you kind of consider and have a huge respect for the car itself and also the danger that it represents.”
Gutierrez admitted that despite the danger in driving this era of cars, which don’t feature all of the safety features of the modern-day racer such as the HALO system, a competitive drivers’ instinct kicks-in when they get behind the wheel.
“Even though it’s a race weekend, it’s more like a demonstration event. People out there are still competing and they want to achieve a good result. As a competitive racing driver, you still want to do well. Just like today, I was honestly pushing the car,” revealed the Mexican.
He added, “It’s a strange line. We all know that we’re here to demonstrate the cars, but at the same time there is a podium, there’s a result, and whoever is on top has the most prestigious result of the weekend.”
Ultimately, Gutierrez’s race didn’t pan out as he had hoped. Racing in the D Series race, he had to abandon on lap five due to a mechanical issue. However, that only strengthens his will and determination to come back and compete next year. “I am very angry with the mechanical failure to be honest. I can’t remember the last time I felt so disappointed. Of course, I’m going to come back and try to win it,” he said.
But it’s not simply Gutierrez’s competitiveness that compels him to take on Monaco’s streets again next year. “The whole weekend has been an incredible experience, but it’s also putting me outside of my comfort zone. I haven’t felt that in racing for a while… It is just fantastic. It was a dream to be here in Monaco, driving this car.”
Far more than simply an exhibition, Gutierrez reminds us of the inherent competitiveness of motorsport, which annually gives these historic cars a new lease of life in the Principality. For spectators and drivers alike, it is an event that transcends time, mimicking not only the aesthetic of the past, but also the sensations and feelings of that golden age of racing.
Click on the picture below to see our Instagram reel of the Historic Grand Prix…
Players and supporters alike revelled in the “good vibes” during an open training session at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday, as AS Monaco prepare for their final game of the Ligue 1 season.
Prior to Wednesday’s session, the club recognised the unwavering support of the fan groups as they were presented with the new AS Monaco 2022/23 home kit by owner Dimitry Rybolovlev before last Saturday’s match against Brest.
The 18 fan groups, from all across France and even Italy, are what give Monaco their motto “Everywhere. Always.”. The groups are largely responsible for the club filling the away ends matches across the country, and they will do so once more before the season’s end.
In under a day, Monaco sold their 1,000-seat allocation for the trip to RC Lens on Saturday, where just a draw will suffice to earn them a place on the Ligue 1 podium. For those who don’t have the opportunity to make the trip up north, there is an exciting alternative right here in the Principality.
A giant screen will be erected in front of the Pésage stand of the Stade Louis II, which will broadcast the game live. It will be a spectacular open-air cinema experience, with the stadium’s iconic arches towering above the screen. With qualification for the Champions League on the line, there is bound to be a great atmosphere in a stand that is usually inhabited by the club’s Ultras group.
Tickets for the event can be bought at www.billeterie.asmonaco.com, or from the Stade Louis II ticket office. Access is free for season ticket holders, whilst general admission will cost just €5. VIP access is available for €70 (without tax), and can be bought by contacting gmotyka@asmonaco.com.
Fans can arrive from 8pm and a whole host of pre-match, half-time and post-match activities have been planned, and mascot Bouba will also be in attendance.
Before making the trip, fans descended on the stadium on Wednesday to attend an opening training session. On a hot day in the Principality, nearly 300 fans came to watch the likes of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Wissam Ben Yedder prepare for the big fixture. There was no shortage of determination and effort from the players, but all of them still mustered the energy to engage with fans after the session as they posed for pictures, chatted and signed autographs.
As Tchouaméni and Youssouf Fofana revealed post-session, not only was this a great event to allow fans to feel even closer to the club, it was also beneficial for the players themselves. “They’ve given us energy and good vibes,” said Fofana. “It’s a pleasure to train in front of the public.”
Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
Club Suisse welcomes German politician Julia Klöckner
The Club Suisse de Monaco recently invited former German government minister Julia Klöckner to speak on a variety of relevant topics, including the effects of rising inflation in the Euro zone and the dependence on Russian gas and oil imports.
The Suisse Club de Monaco recently hosted an event featuring a big name in German politics as headliner, speaking on “Inflation, Sovereign Debt and Military Conflict in Ukraine – the Economy in Turmoil”, followed by a group lunch which included the International German Club of Monaco.
The speaker was none other than Julia Klöckner, who served under long-time Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2018-2021 as the German Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Production.
As economic policy spokeswoman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party’s parliamentary group as well as federal treasurer of the CDU, Mrs. Klöckner pointed out the economic interdependence with foreign countries, the development and effects of rising inflation in the Euro zone as well as the dependence on Russian gas and oil imports. Afterwards, there was an intensive discussion about the effects of the military conflict in Ukraine.
The important and serious topic garnered much attention and a lively discussion ensued.
Lest it be thought she is all work and no play, Klöckner, the daughter of winemakers, first hit headlines in Germany when she was selected to be the German Wine Queen of 1995. The Wine Queen represents the wine industry in the country and has the support of two “princesses” who together form Germany’s Wine Ambassadors for a term of one year.
Photo from left to right: Dr. Arik Röschke (President Club Suisse de Monaco), Julia Klöckner, Beatrix Baronne von Dellingshausen (Co-President Club Allemand International de Monaco)
Monaco-based Venturi Group, headed by Gildo Pastor, can count space exploration to its already forward-thinking vision, with its newest entity, Venturi Lab, poised to design and build mobility solutions capable to handling the extreme conditions found on the Moon and Mars.
After two decades of perfecting electric vehicles on Earth, the Venturi Group is looking to the heavens for its next venture. Using the expertise and experience they have culled over the years, the company has expanded to the creation of durable, reusable space vehicles via their new entity, Venturi Lab, based in Switzerland.
Co-founded with Dr Antonio Delfino, former Head of the Chemistry and Physics Department and Fellow at Michelin, Pastor’s vision has extended beyond the Earth-based into the design and manufacture of people-movers suitable for use in space.
To bring the necessary parts needed together, Pastor has created a partnership with Venturi Astrolab in California. In this capacity, engineers from Venturi Monaco, Venturi North America and Venturi Lab will work together to build batteries and use materials that can withstand and function at very low temperatures, create solar panels, fashion deformable wheels, build electric vehicle control systems and incorporate the integration of human factors for planetary rovers.
“Since 2001, we have been creating high-performance two-and four-wheel vehicles – and even tracked vehicles – that can operate at -50° C or up to 549 km/h depending on the model,” said Pastor. “Today, I am putting our expertise and resources in the service of space research, a field where excellence is the norm. I want to fly the Monegasque flag ever higher.”
The Venturi Lab
Venturi’s aspirations are definitely aiming for the stars. Basing the designs on what is known of the harsh conditions on the Moon and Mars, they are developing technologies that will see their rovers heading to space with the upcoming NASA and SpaceX lunar missions.
“Relying on its strategic partners across the Atlantic, Venturi Astrolab hopes to supply its vehicles to NASA,” said the company in a press release. “For its part and in parallel, Venturi Lab is working with Thales Alenia Space in France and Beyond Gravity, formerly known as RUAG Space, in Zurich, Switzerland. These collaborations will enable Venturi Lab to test new space technologies and present them to the European Space Agency (ESA). Over the long term, Venturi Lab also aims to invent technologies that will help to reduce land-based, maritime and atmospheric pollution.”
The first breakthroughs and achievements of the new venture will be forthcoming in the coming months.
Photos source: Venturi Group
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