Princess Charlene signalled the start of her Foundation’s race, The Crossing Water Bike Challenge, by blasting an air horn on Friday 19 June in Viareggio, Italy. Seven teams quickly took off across the Mediterranean for a 24 hour race in the name of charity and environmental protection. Each team was made up of four elite athletes, who took turns pedalling water bikes at sea, travelling 225 kilometres to Monaco.
The Record Breaking Winners…
Team Lionheart, made up of Gustav Larsson, Veronika Larsson, Jeremy Josserand and Alex Bennett came in first place and set a new event record of 24 hours and 8 minutes. They arrived at Larvotto Beach on Saturday 20 June, with the other participating teams close behind.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene welcomed and congratulated all the teams who participated in the environmental and charitable challenge. For the first time, the Princely Couple teamed up for this third water bike challenge.
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II signed a partnership agreement between their respective foundations during the 17th Monaco Blue Initiative at the end of May 2026.
“This year, our two Foundations have forged a partnership around sport and the environment,” said the Prince Albert II. The first collaboration between the two foundations was this year’s Crossing Challenge, which aimed to raise awareness about the Pelagos Sanctuary.
“By combining sport with ocean conservation, my Foundation intends, through The Crossing, to inspire commitment, promote the protection of the Mediterranean, and demonstrate that human achievement and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand,” said Princess Charlene.
Spotting Whales and Dolphins during the Race
Race participants were able to experience the beauty of the Pelagos sanctuary first hand. The athletes spotted dolphins and whales on their day-long journey across the sea. Spanning 87,500 km² between France, Monaco, and Italy, the Pelagos Sanctuary is the first transboundary area in the Mediterranean dedicated to the protection of marine mammals.
Princess Charlene organizes Water Safety Day in Italy
Two days before kicking off the Water Bike race, Princess Charlene took the opportunity to organize Water Safety Day 2026 in Italy, on Bagno Flora Beach. Nearly fifty young participants from youth centres and associations in Viareggio took part in educational and sporting workshops led by Stéphanie Barneix, Ambassador of the Princess Charlene Foundation, alongside her team and Italian lifeguards. The morning also featured demonstrations by the Italian Coast Guard and the Italian School of Rescue Dogs.
