Allagrande Mapei Racing: ¡Forza Beccaria!
The start of The Ocean Race Europe is fast approaching: in 6 days, the seven teams will set off. Today, we continue our series of team presentations with the only Italian entry: Allagrande Mapei Racing. Led by Ambrogio Beccaria, who is making his debut in the IMOCA class with great ambition after shining in the Mini and Class40 circuits. Around him: seasoned sailors with proven track records (Thomas Ruyant, Morgan Lagravière and Abby Ehler) and promising young talents (Manon Peyre and Hugo Feydit). Ambrogio introduces his crew, confident he has everything it takes to be one of the major contenders in this race.
Ambrogio Beccaria might not yet be a household name, but he’s undoubtedly one of the most talented sailors of his generation. He was the first Italian to win the Mini Transat (2019), then made waves in Class40, finishing 2nd in the Route du Rhum (2022) and winning both the Transat Jacques Vabre (2023) and the Transat CIC (2024). Now he’s setting sail on a new IMOCA adventure, aiming for the Vendée Globe, armed with top-level credentials and strong motivation.
“Achieving the best possible performance”
For this new chapter, Ambrogio can count on the solid support of Mapei. The Italian company, headquartered in Milan where the skipper was born, is well-known to cycling fans for its former pro team (1993–2002). Also owner of the Sassuolo football club, Mapei has supported Ambrogio since 2022, and this backing has grown with his transition to IMOCA. “Ambrogio embodies our company’s values and commitment,” says board member Simone Giorgetta.
Having always been competitive in his previous classes, Ambrogio is eager to fight at the front of the fleet in IMOCA. His ambition for The Ocean Race Europe is crystal clear: “My goal is to achieve the best possible performance,” he says in perfect French. “I’ve never heard a sportsman say he dreams of finishing second.” This crewed, multi-leg race is perfect timing: “It’s a great way to deepen my knowledge of the boat,” he adds.
A top-class crew
Ambrogio has the technical and strategic support of TR Racing, the team behind Thomas Ruyant, which previously campaigned this Antoine Koch-designed foiler (formerly Vulnérable). Naturally, Ambrogio surrounded himself with those who contributed to the boat’s success. “It was only logical to invite Thomas — one of the greatest IMOCA sailors — to join the crew.” Alongside Thomas and Ambrogio, who will also team up for the Transat Café L’Or, is Morgan Lagravière. “Morgan is Thomas’s long-time teammate,” smiles Ambrogio, referencing their two consecutive Transat Jacques Vabre victories.
The crew also includes 24-year-old Manon Peyre, a rising talent at the helm. From Marseille, she comes from Olympic sailing (2023 49erFX Junior World Champion) and continues to grow fast in IMOCA. “She brings fresh eyes and great energy to the team,” Ambrogio says. The onboard reporter (OBR), Pierre Bourras, who has worked with Thomas Ruyant for years, is also “very pleasant and easy to live with onboard.”
The team will be reinforced by two more sailors: the talented British veteran Abby Ehler for Leg 3, and Frenchman Hugo Feydit, TR Racing’s electronics expert, for Leg 5. Together, they’ll be racing on a particularly powerful IMOCA, especially downwind. “It barely slams through the waves,” Ambrogio says. “It’s like flying a fighter jet!”
But it’s not just the sporting challenge that excites him. “I love the idea of racing around Europe. Sailing in the Mediterranean and bringing this sport closer to home is a real joy.” He adds, “Connecting countries is a powerful symbol — now more than ever. That’s the magic of offshore racing: it brings nations together.”
Discovering the Allagrande Mapei Racing crew
Thomas Ruyant
44 years old, French
“Thomas was an obvious choice. He’s one of the best skippers in IMOCA history. He’s also the head of the TR Racing team, who are helping us take control of the boat and manage it technically... We all know his talent — he played a key role in the last two Vendée Globes, won the most recent Route du Rhum, and the last two editions of the Transat Jacques Vabre. Thomas was involved in building the boat and developing it — he understands it better than anyone!”
Morgan Lagravière
38 years old, French
“Morgan has been Thomas’s long-time co-skipper. Together, they won the last two editions of the Transat Jacques Vabre. He also has solid experience, particularly in IMOCA. He’s an extremely valuable person on board. He has great intuition and knows how to make the right calls to optimize the settings as much as possible.”
Manon Peyre
23 years old, French
“Manon is a young sailor with a lot of talent. She’s very skilled at the helm, which is especially important on a boat where we spend a lot of time steering. It’s refreshing to have a new perspective alongside experienced skippers. She’s very comfortable on board and highly motivated. Her energy on board is contagious!”
Abby Ehler
48 years old, British (during Leg 3)
“I met Abby during a leg of The Ocean Race I sailed aboard Holcim-PRB. She only did the inshore race with us. We only crossed paths briefly, but in those few hours she really impressed me. It was very windy, the crew back then didn’t have much experience with the boat, and Abby was the one who reassured and guided us on board. That really stuck with me.”
Hugo Feydit
33 years old, French (during Leg 5)
“We did several sailings together this winter. He knows the boat very well as he’s in charge of all the performance aspects with the design office. He has solid experience with dinghies, foiling Moths, IRC... He doesn’t come from offshore racing but brings a very interesting perspective. And he’s a real pleasure to have on board!”
Pierre Bourras
36 years old, French, OBR
“We had already done a media shoot together with Ian Lipinski and had crossed paths on the docks. He’s a very pleasant and easygoing person on board. His job is incredibly difficult in racing conditions. But it’s essential, as it helps bring the public closer to what we experience during races. It’s crucial to document what we go through in competition.”