© Eric Mathon / Palais Princier
© Eric Mathon / Palais Princier
© Eric Mathon / Palais Princier
© Eric Mathon / Palais Princier
© Eric Mathon / Palais Princier
© Eric Mathon / Palais Princier
Royal victory at 2018 Riviera Water Bike Challenge
Princess Charlene's team won the charity event
The Riviera Water Challenge gathers some of the world's best athletes on the waters of Monaco every year, where they cycle (yes, cycle) to victory in relay teams. It's all for a good cause, in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
This year, the princess' team, 'Serenity', which included former F1 driver Mark Webber, ex-rugby player Cristophe Dominici, South African swimmer Terence Parkin and Australian cyclist David Tanner took home the title. Departing from Monaco Yacht Club, they had to complete 30 laps in front of Fort Antonine, a total of 20km in turns.
110 participants took place in this year's edition of this unusual challenge, 44 of them professional athletes. The 22 teams included some celebrated sportsmen such as five-time Olympian swimmer Ian Thorpe, F1 drivers Mika Hakkinen and Felipe Massa, and British athlete Paula Radcliffe.
The Riviera Water Bike Challenge was created by former rugby player and brother to Princess Charlene, Gareth Wittstock. Having tested the Schiller S1 water bike for the first time in the waters of Larvotto Beach in 2015, he was hooked. He came up with the idea of the first-ever water bike relay race, a fundraiser with all of the proceeds to go to his sister’s charity, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, established in 2012 to educate children in water safety and provide swimming lessons.
