Ambrogio Beccaria and Mapei bet on collective strength fo IMOCA debut
by Allagrande Mapei Racing 13 Jun 07:09 BST
Morgan Lagravière, Thomas Ruyant, Ambrogio Beccaria, Manon Peyre, Pierre Bouras © Pierre Bouras
This is a decisive turning point for Ambrogio Beccaria. Until now an undisputed reference in Class40, the Milanese skipper is preparing, thanks to his collaboration with partner Mapei, to change scale by joining the very exclusive circle of sailors engaged in IMOCA.
This summer, he will take the helm of a 60-foot foiling monohull, the IMOCA Allagrande Mapei, for the first time to embark on an adventure as demanding as it is prestigious: The Ocean Race Europe. Five stages, five seas, one ocean, and a host of seasoned competitors for an accelerated immersion into the world of crewed offshore racing. To accompany him and in addition to the TR Racing team which already brings its expertise to the project, Ambrogio will rely on a calibrated crew where experience, cohesion, and detailed knowledge of the boat will offer structured and progressive learning. Alongside him, Thomas Ruyant, Morgan Lagravière, Manon Peyre and Pierre Bouras will share a collective adventure where human chemistry will count as much as technical performance.
The Allagrande Mapei crew ready to challenge the elite on The Ocean Race Europe
This is a major first for skipper Ambrogio Beccaria, who will officially take command of the IMOCA Allagrande Mapei in mid-July. And the challenge promises to be significant: from August 10, he will set off in one of the most demanding races on the IMOCA 2025 circuit, The Ocean Race Europe, a nautical loop in five stages, from Kiel (Germany) to Boka Bay (Montenegro).
The route of this second edition creates a true maritime odyssey, crossing five seas and one ocean. The start will be given from the shores of the Baltic Sea, heading for the North Sea, before a strategic descent through the English Channel to Portsmouth, the first stopover. The monohulls will then head south, following the Atlantic coasts with a brief passage through Matosinhos-Porto (Portugal), before entering the Mediterranean for a spectacular finale: Cartagena, Nice, Genoa, and finally Montenegro, in the heart of the Adriatic.
But while the course is complex, the competition promises to be formidable. Facing Allagrande Mapei Racing are solidly established projects, led by skippers with impressive track records, true references of the IMOCA class. Alongside them, very high-level crew members, seasoned in round-the-world races, transatlantic crossings and familiar with the varied sailing conditions that this European course offers. Adversaries who, for the most part, master their mount from the tip of their bowsprit to their stern.
For a first IMOCA engagement on such a strategic format, the challenge is bold: quickly take control of the IMOCA Allagrande Mapei, learn as much as possible from the crew and the competition, navigate in the most diverse conditions and seas to be quickly competitive.
Knowing how to surround yourself by playing the continuity card
After taking part in the Course des Caps under the colors of VULNERABLE, the IMOCA will now bear the name Allagrande Mapei for the rest of the 2025 season. New visual identity for the 60-foot monohull but an almost unchanged crew for The Ocean Race Europe. "I already have a lot to do to get to grips with this boat. I'm really focusing on this learning process this year," confides Ambrogio Beccaria. Lucidly, he adds: "Starting a project by changing everything would be counterproductive. I have complete confidence in Thomas's choices for the first race of the season. The idea is therefore to capitalize on this team and enrich it with other skippers who will soon complete the crew and allow us to make rotations."
Thus Thomas Ruyant, co-skipper for the rest of the 2025 season, seasoned navigator and former skipper of this same IMOCA, will naturally be on board. Key man of the project, he knows this boat in the smallest details. Winner of the Route du Rhum in 2022 and the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 among others, he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to perform in major ocean races. His presence on board guarantees the crew rare expertise, capable of covering all positions if needed.
Alongside them, Morgan Lagravière, Ruyant's regular training partner, will once again take on the role of performance manager. A talented racer, having passed through Olympism in 49er and through the Vendée Globe, he excels in settings optimization. His sharp eye and technical rigor will be precious assets throughout the European course.
Manon Peyre embodies the new generation. Also coming from dinghy sailing and the 49erFX, she embarks here for her second major offshore racing event. Appreciated for her helm touch and adaptability, she brings freshness, commitment and precision in maneuvers.
Pierre Bouras, On Board Reporter (OBR), as comfortable on deck as behind his camera, will have the mission of documenting this sporting and human adventure. His artistic eye, combined with good knowledge of life at sea, promises a strong and authentic visual narrative.
But the demanding course of The Ocean Race Europe, combined with the duration of the event, requires fine effort management, hence the need for the Allagrande Mapei crew to make rotations. The crew will soon be completed by two other crew members.
They said:
Ambrogio Beccaria: "This is my first regatta as skipper with such a large team, both on board and on shore — a real baptism in this role. It's an important step to see if I'm really up to it. Sailing with Thomas, whom I've always considered a reference, came naturally and we share a similar approach to performance, we both know that to go fast, you must above all be well at sea and be good sailors. I'm also delighted to meet Morgan again, whom I knew as a competitor in Class40 and Figaro. He's an instinctive sailor, born on the water: learning alongside him is a plus because everything seems easy with him. As for Manon, we've only shared a few outings, but her determination is obvious. Like Morgan, she comes from the Olympic classes and has great talent at the helm. It's now about transferring the skills from her universe to ours, and I'm convinced that facing the Course des Caps together will be excellent training ground for The Ocean Race Europe."
Thomas Ruyant: "It's true that I'm more used to sailing solo or double-handed on this boat. Thanks to the work of TR Racing experts and quality preparation with great care, they managed to make it evolve so that it can now accommodate a crew of five people. The Ocean Race Europe will be a discovery ground for all of us, actually, because in IMOCA in crew configuration, my only experience remains that of the first edition in 2021. The beginning of the season will be essential to learn to know each other, see how everyone works, and gradually create real dynamics on board. All this will be built progressively, between training and the Course des Caps. With Morgan, we've already started to pass on some benchmarks to Ambrogio and Manon on the first outings. The idea is that they get their bearings quickly so we can then go into detail. The organization on board will continue to adjust naturally, and I really want to push a little further everything that touches pure navigation, strategy. It's a field I particularly like and that I want to explore even more in crew."
Morgan Lagravière: "I'm super happy to join the Allagrande Mapei crew for The Ocean Race Europe, alongside Ambrogio, Thomas and Manon. We all come from different backgrounds, with varied paths, but we're moving in the same direction: collective performance. On board very quickly, the chemistry took hold. From the first training sessions, everyone found their place on board, and the atmosphere is great. This tour of Europe in crew reminds me of my Tour de France à la Voile years. Same competitive spirit, same desire to share strong moments at sea, except here the stages are longer, the boats more committed, and the challenges tougher. But basically, it's always the same story: building a solid team, where technical skills count as much as human qualities. I feel we're going to have a great adventure, with commitment, pleasure, and a real crew spirit. Can't wait for it to start!"
Manon Peyre: "Taking part in The Ocean Race Europe is an incredible chance, and frankly, I didn't expect it. For a long time, I believed - perhaps wrongly - that the gap was too great between dinghy sailing and IMOCA to even think of finding my place there one day. So, when I was offered to helm Allagrande Mapei, I was first a bit stunned... and very curious. What surprised me most was seeing how this boat, despite its power, can react like a dinghy. There are still a lot of things I need to learn before the start in Germany, of course, but I feel surrounded by a super solid team, listening, and that makes you want to progress quickly. I hope to be able to bring my little touch too, especially on certain waters I know well from having raced a lot in 49er, like the Kiel area or certain Mediterranean spots. It's motivating to think that I can contribute, in my way, on this kind of detail."
A technical partnership tailored for performance
To accompany this new IMOCA adventure, the Allagrande Mapei Racing team can count on a partner of choice: Musto, reference technical equipment supplier, officially joins the project as technical partner. "We are extremely happy to be joining forces with Ambrogio again, after some successful years together. He's been and certainly will continue to be a great ambassador of our brand on an international level, but mostly he and his team will push our products to their limits and provide us with valuable feedback that will give us the unique chance to develop even better products." declares Nick Houchin, Marketing Director at Musto. And indeed, Ambrogio Beccaria knows the brand well since he has been sailing in Musto for several seasons in Class40. "It's a real vote of confidence to be able to continue with Musto for this new chapter," he confides. "Their equipment has always allowed me to face the harshest conditions at sea, and it's a real comfort to know that the whole team will now be equipped with this level of requirement." Comfort, technicality and reliability: so many assets that will accompany every mile covered by Allagrande Mapei Racing on The Ocean Race Europe and in the coming years.
Personalized support via the Mapei Sport Research Center
The Mapei Sport Research Center will accompany Ambrogio in his sports preparation via unprecedented physiological and biomechanical monitoring that will also serve science. The objective: to better understand the effects of ocean crossings on the body and advance research in this field.
Mapei continues its commitment alongside Ambrogio Beccaria
Mapei, leader in the production of chemical products for the construction industry, will be alongside Ambrogio and his crew as main sponsor of the project for this IMOCA debut. A partnership also placed under the sign of continuity, after the enthusiastic Class40 experience.
Find more information about Ambrogio Beccaria's Allagrande Mapei Racing project at www.allagranderacing.com.