The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation supports the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation for “The Crossing: Together for Pelagos”

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation stood alongside the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation for the sporting challenge The Crossing: Together for Pelagos, which took place on 19 and 20 June between Italy and Monaco.

For this new edition, organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, the participating teams travelled from Viareggio, on the Tuscan coast, to Larvotto Beach in Monaco, completing a 225-kilometre relay crossing of the Mediterranean by water bike. The start was given from the Club Nautico di Viareggio by HSH Prince Albert II and HSH Princess Charlene, before the teams arrived in Monaco the following day. The event brought together seven teams composed of high-level athletes around a shared objective: to place the values of sport at the service of prevention, solidarity and the preservation of the marine environment.

This edition placed the Pelagos Sanctuary at the heart of its route. This 87,500 km² marine protected area, shared by France, Italy and Monaco, is dedicated to the protection of marine mammals in the Mediterranean. By crossing this emblematic area, The Crossing conveyed a powerful message: a reminder of the fragility of Mediterranean marine ecosystems and of the need for collective mobilisation to preserve them.

Ahead of the crossing, on 18 June, a Water Safety Day was organised in Viareggio. As part of this programme, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation offered children an awareness-raising workshop on the biodiversity of the Pelagos Sanctuary, helping them better understand the richness, challenges and threats facing this unique marine area. The Foundation also presented a retrospective exhibition of the winning and finalist photographs from the Ocean category of its Environmental Photography Award, offering an artistic and committed perspective on the beauty of the marine world.

The participation of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is part of the partnership signed last May between the two Princely Foundations, during the Monaco Blue Initiative. This collaboration aims to promote environmental preservation through the values of sport, combining drowning prevention, swimming education and marine conservation in the Mediterranean.

At the end of this demanding journey, Team Lionheart, led by former professional cyclist Gustav Larsson, won the 2026 edition of The Crossing, followed by Team Mangusta and Team Galenic. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation congratulates all the teams on their performance, team spirit and commitment.

Through The Crossing: Together for Pelagos, the two Foundations reaffirmed that sport can be a powerful vehicle for awareness and change. More than a sporting challenge, this crossing carried an appeal to better understand, respect and protect the Mediterranean: a shared natural heritage and a vital space for future generations.


Credits : Michael Alesi - Palais Princier | Tommaso Baldi