At the halfway mark, the battle is heating up

Biotherm may be out in front after securing a third consecutive leg win and banking maximum points, but the race is far from over. Behind the leader, no one has given up on victory or a place on the podium. With just 11 points separating second-placed Team Holcim-PRB from fifth-placed Allagrande Mapei Racing, the fight for the top spots is wide open on the eve of Leg 4, which will take the fleet to Genoa via Monaco.

Biotherm: can they maintain the relentless pace?

1st place – 34 points (11-point lead)

On the leaderboard, it will be very difficult to overcome Biotherm’s score at this stage. Skipper Paul Meilhat highlighted the importance of their perfect record at the “scoring gates” (6 out of 6 points) and the team’s strong starts. Rivals have been full of praise, describing their performance as a “masterclass” (Corentin Horeau), a “perfect copy” (Thomas Ruyant) and “total control” (Nicolas Lunven).

With an 11-point cushion, Biotherm hold all the cards. But will they play it safe in the second half of the race? “At one point in my bunk, I started to think about the points we could win or lose,” admitted Amélie Grassi. “But you can’t think like that. This is the Mediterranean — it’s unpredictable, and things can turn around very quickly!”

Team Holcim-PRB: how far can the comeback go?

2nd place – 23 points (tied with 3rd)

Second in Cartagena, second again in Nice — Team Holcim-PRB has staged a spectacular comeback after their early setback in Kiel. The team led by Rosalin Kuiper is brimming with confidence. Asked about being in second place, Franck Cammas shot back: “We’d prefer to be first!”

“We’re happy to be second but it’s not perfect,” added Lunven. “We can be faster upwind and reaching, but in transition zones they \[Biotherm] manage to get away and we’re left chasing.” Still, the ambition is clear. “It’s a great challenge to try and push Biotherm behind us,” said Cammas. “It won’t be easy, but we’ll keep pushing.”

Paprec Arkéa: back in the mix?

3rd place – 23 points (7 points clear of 4th)

For the first time in The Ocean Race Europe, Paprec Arkéa missed the podium, finishing fourth. Technical problems with their J0 sail and pressure from Team Malizia proved costly. “A small disappointment,” admitted Yann Eliès, while Corentin Horeau pointed to the long upwind stretches and light-wind zones. With Yoann Richomme and Pascal Bidégorry back on board, Paprec Arkéa will be aiming for revenge in Leg 4.

Team Malizia: still in the fight

4th place – 16 points (4 points clear of 5th)

Team Malizia slipped one place overall, impacted by Holcim-PRB’s surge. But Boris Herrmann’s team is still very much in contention. “We’ve had almost the same ranking as the last leg, just swapping Paprec Arkéa and Allagrande Mapei Racing,” explained Loïs Berrehar.

“We were always close to our rivals, and although it wasn’t enough, we could have reached the podium,” said Herrmann, who preferred to highlight “the very good spirit on board” and “how well the team worked together.” Berrehar added: “Nothing is set in stone, it’s not over. There’s still a lot that can happen in the next two legs.”

Allagrande Mapei Racing: steady progress

5th place – 12 points (2 points clear of 6th)

Fourth in Cartagena, third in Nice… progress is clear for Allagrande Mapei Racing. “Our improvement is real,” said Ambrogio Beccaria after the team’s first podium finish. The early setbacks in Kiel and the Caps Race are now firmly behind them.

“We’ve got the boat and the crew,” confirmed Thomas Ruyant. “We’d like less upwind and more downwind sailing! On this course you need a very versatile boat to be competitive.” Like Beccaria, Ruyant is eager to “keep building momentum.”

Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive: learning fast

6th place – 10 points (4 points clear of 7th)

Just over three hours after Team Malizia, Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive crossed the line in Nice. Skipper Scott Shawyer continues his learning curve as he builds towards a future Vendée Globe campaign, backed by an experienced crew that includes Pip Hare, Brian Thompson and Christopher Pratt.

“It wasn’t an easy leg but we held strong,” said Pratt. “Hopefully in the next one we can make some smart moves, Mediterranean style.” The short upcoming leg could be the perfect stage for a surprise from the Canadian team.

Team Amaala: chasing the Canadians

7th place – 6 points (4 points behind 6th)

At the finish, Pip Hare (Canada Ocean Racing) was quick to congratulate Alan Roura and Team Amaala. There’s respect, but also rivalry, as Roura made clear: “Every leg we tell ourselves we’ll catch them. This time we closed the gap, even though conditions weren’t ideal for our boat. One day we’ll get ahead!”

Roura also relishes the chance to bring young sailors into the race: “Between the racing, the conditions and the boat, the experience we’re giving them is amazing. Hopefully it lasts!”