Good start for “Allagrande Mapei” and Beccaria on the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe
by Allagrande MAPEI Racing 17 Aug 19:35 BST
17 August 2025
Allagrande Mapei and Ambrogio Beccaria set off on the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 at 16:55 local time heading for Cartagena, Spain.
This decisive 1,400-nautical-mile stage offers double points and will challenge the teams with complex weather conditions: they will have to manage two major transitions before the fly-by in Matosinhos (Portugal), as well as the strategic passages around Cape Finisterre and the Strait of Gibraltar, the gateway to the Mediterranean.
After being forced to retire from the first leg following a collision, Ambrogio Beccaria, with the support of his Allagrande Mapei Racing team and the experts from TR Racing, managed to repair his IMOCA and make it to the start of this second leg. A clear demonstration of resilience and determination, symbolized on the new outrigger bearing the title partner Mapei's motto: "Never stop pedaling."
"For me, simply being on the starting line of the first leg was already a victory. Being here for the second is another one," said Ambrogio Beccaria. "We've been through some difficult months, and now it's about getting things rolling again, building a string of good results. The goal is simple: to reach the finish line with this crew, this team, this boat, this sponsor. I really want all of us to be together at the finish in Cartagena, after a great leg. Of course, the sporting side is essential, but I also want to enjoy the moment, sail without major setbacks, and savor being at sea."
A feeling echoed by young sailor Manon Peyre just minutes before leaving the dock in Portsmouth: "There's a huge desire to get back out on the water, to sail. Being here feels a bit unreal. It's amazing to see the whole fleet together again. Of course, there's also a little apprehension... We already felt it during the delivery trip, because we had two breakdowns in a row. You know something can break — it's always there in the back of your mind."
With this new leg, the team embarks on a demanding race, but also an opportunity to reconnect with offshore sailing in a spirit of perseverance and sportsmanship. "We'll be ready to fight at sea; we're here to give our very best. Every leg is a race in itself," said Ambrogio Beccaria. And Manon added: "We're switching back into race mode — here we go again!"
Find more information about Ambrogio Beccaria's Allagrande Mapei Racing project at www.allagranderacing.com.