A total of 105 riders cycled 130km from St Tropez to Monaco last month to raise money for The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which strives put a stop to drowning by developing water safety programmes across the world. This was the Champagne and Oysters Cycling Club’s (COCC) annual charity bike ride, now in its eighth year and a firm fixture in Monaco’s social calendar. Amongst the famous sporting faces, international business people and keen cyclists was our very own CEO, Rumble Romagnoli, who was participating in the event for the first time. With this 2019 edition raising an estimated €100,000 and donations still coming in, we think it’s fair to call it a roaring success.
Who takes part in the COCC charity cycle rides?
The COCC charity bike rides welcome anyone willing to cycle over 130km over the course of a day, with the overall aim of raising money for a great cause. However, since its founding, the club has attracted a sports celebrity membership, with figures such as Thierry Boutsen, the Belgian former F1 driver and prominent Monaco businessman and Veronica Larsson, the Swedish former pro-cyclist and winner of numerous international women’s pro races, taking part in this year’s race.
Event organiser Damian Crean commented: “The event just gets better and better every year… We… had participants this year flying in from The Cayman Islands, Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland and many from the UK – a lot of whom have already confirmed again for next year.”
Post-cycle celebrations
After a triumphant arrival in Monaco at Star’N’Bars, the COCC participants continued their evening with family and friends at a street party organised by Slammers, Monaco. Against the backdrop of a live band and a late spring evening, H.S.H. Prince Albert II showed his support by giving out the event’s coveted Pedal awards to winning COCC participants. These were as follows:
The Gold Pedal Award: Patrick Torrison (aged 15), the youngest COCC participant.
The Silver Pedal Award: Orrett Conner (aged 69), the oldest rider, all the way from the Cayman Islands.
The Bronze Pedal Award: Mim Stanway, for the Stanway family, who organised all the support, vans, stops and lunch.
Our CEO Rumble commented: “It is so much more than a bike race. It is a family; a community of people who genuinely care about each other, on and off the road. The COCC has become a not-to-be-missed social and networking event on the Monaco calendar, where friends, family and colleagues can spend some hard-earned quality time together.”
Follow the COCC 2019 journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official.cocc/ or donate to the cause here: https://coccmonaco.com/donate