Ambrogio Beccaria to lead Italian team in The Ocean Race Europe

A new offshore racing project led by Ambrogio Beccaria will be on the start line of The Ocean Race Europe this summer.

The Allagrande Mapei Racing team was officially launched in Milan, Italy on Wednesday, where Beccaria presented his project alongside his partner Mapei, an Italian-based, international construction materials company.

Allagrande Mapei Racing is a long term project that will see Beccaria build towards racing in the Vendée Globe in 2028, with his first competition coming in the fully-crewed The Ocean Race Europe starting this summer on 10 August in Kiel, Germany.

"Having this opportunity to continue a growth path started some time ago is a great privilege for me. Competing in the IMOCA class is truly the best, I wish for nothing else. I couldn't wish for anything better,” Beccaria said.

“I know there will be tough challenges to face, but I'm motivated to learn from the ocean and, if possible, to win a few races."

"We are proud to support this new, innovative and courageous project by Ambrogio Beccaria," said Veronica Squinzi, CEO of Mapei. "Mapei immediately believed in Ambrogio, recognizing in him those sporting values that have always been part of the company's DNA: passion, tenacity, grit in facing new challenges. A tough sporting and technological adventure which, we are sure, will also take our brand far. Mapei is a multinational present in 57 countries around the world, internationalization is one of the pillars of our strategy. Supporting a project whose goal is to sail around the world, with the ocean as a stage and involving international teams, is a natural choice for us."

Richard Brisius, the Race Chairman of The Ocean Race, was in Milan for the team announcement.

“It’s exciting to see Ambrogio moving into the IMOCA class and to know his first competition as a skipper will be with The Ocean Race Europe this summer, with an Italian-flagged team racing into Genova”- comments Richard Brisius. “Ambrogio is a talented and competitive sailor who believes strongly in using his platform in sailing to contribute towards ocean health. During The Ocean Race Europe, along with all the teams, he will be collecting and sharing important ocean data with scientists around the world who are studying the health of the ocean and the impact of climate change on our seas.”

The IMOCA boat he will race is the same one sailed by Thomas Ruyant in the last Vendée Globe and Ruyant will race as Beccaria’s co-skipper in The Ocean Race Europe. His team, TR Racing, will be providing technical support to Allagrande Mapei Racing throughout the year.