Allagrande Mapei conquers its first victory at The Ocean Race Europe 2025, crossing the finish line first in the Genoa leg. A triumph all the more heartfelt because it was won “at home”, in Ambrogio’s adopted city, and which comes after the difficulties faced at the start of the race.
“When you hope to win, and then you actually win, it’s truly magnificent,” said Ambrogio Beccaria on arrival at Porto Antico. “It was an incredible stage, windy, sometimes close to 30 knots – a lot for a Mediterranean leg.”
“We are extremely happy with this victory,” said Simona Giorgetta, member of Mapei’s Board of Directors. “At sea, the team never let go. This young crew is becoming more united day after day, and the results are starting to show. Thanks to the commitment, determination, and enthusiasm of every member of Allagrande Mapei Racing, TRR, and Mapei’s sponsorship department, who have worked together in perfect synergy, we overcame difficulties, made progress, and took another step forward in the journey toward the 2028 Vendée Globe.”
It was a debut full of twists and turns for Ambrogio Beccaria and his team aboard the new IMOCA 60 Allagrande Mapei. At the start of The Ocean Race Europe, Allagrande Mapei was forced to withdraw from the first leg after a start collision with the Holcim – PRB boat. The initial discouragement gave way to new determination: with passion and tenacity, Ambrogio and his entire team set to work to repair the boat and return to the race, supported by the main sponsor Mapei.
Allagrande Mapei thus set sail on time to take part in the second leg of the regatta from Portsmouth to Cartagena, where it finished fourth. In the third leg, from Cartagena to Nice, it claimed its first podium, celebrating an excellent third place and proving capable of overcoming any challenge — just as Mapei’s historic motto ‘Never stop pedalling‘ says, now engraved on the boat’s outrigger.
The race
The Ocean Race Europe involves a race course stretching from the Baltic Sea, through the North Sea and the English Channel, into the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean before a finish in Boka Bay, Montenegro.
After the announcement of the new Allagrande Mapei Racing ocean adventure, it is the debut of the new IMOCA 60 with the colours of main sponsor Mapei. For its first participation in this long and demanding stage race, Ambrogio has chosen to rely on a solid and close-knit crew, made up of Thomas Ruyant, Morgan Lagravière, Manon Peyre and Pierre Bouras (on board reporter), and Abby Ehler and Hugo Feydit, in the third and fifth stages respectively.
The race, which started from the port of Kiel in Germany, will last a month and a half, with long, technical and closely fought stages between the seven mixed crews, representing 13 nationalities. A 4,500-nautical-mile route across Europe, between sport, team spirit and sustainability.
Physiological and biomechanical monitoring
During The Ocean Race Europe Ambrogio will be followed by the Mapei Sport Research Centre with an innovative physiological and biomechanical monitoring programme, aimed at studying the effects of ocean sailing on the body. Already at Ambrogio’s side for some time for athletic preparation, sports medicine and nutritional assistance, the staff of the Centro Ricerche Mapei Sport will conduct a study on the effect of an offshore race on anthropometric, physiological and cognitive variables by testing Ambrogio and 7 other professional sailors a few days before the start of the competition, during an intermediate leg and at the end of the race.
