The 2012 World Champion won the Criterium de Beking on a day of sport and solidarity.
Monaco, 27 November 2022 – Philippe Gilbert chose the best way to end an impeccable career. On the circuit running on the streets of Monaco, the rainbow winner and winner of four monumental classics claimed the victory at the second edition of BEKING ahead of Michael Matthews and Tadej Pogacar, who finished second and third respectively. The prize for the most combative rider went to Matej Mohoric, who was particularly active throughout the competition. A prestigious finish order, that of the professionals’ criterium which took place on a 1,350m circuit, around Port Hercule, to be raced for forty laps.
“I am really happy!” confirmed an enthusiastic Philippe Gilbert. “Today I won all the events of the day. The Pro-Am this morning by just one second and this afternoon, on the other hand, together with all the pros it was a different story. With the high-level athletes here in Monaco, it was not easy. The racing was fast, and I really enjoyed riding in the company of these great champions for a charity event. It’s nice to end my career like this. I’ve been living here for 13 years now and to end my professional career like this is really great. Beking is a beautiful project that started last year. Every year it gets better, and this year was even better. I’m sure it will grow year by year. My dream is to come back here in 10 to 15 years and see thousands of fans and families on the course. As ambassadors, our goal is to promote our fantastic sport. We are on the right track. The best message would be to see one of the children who raced here today turn professional in 15 years’ time,’ Philippe concludes.
“Racing here in Beking here in Munich for the second time is really fantastic,” said Tadej Pogacar after the finish. “It is a unique event and we were also lucky with the weather. It was a very intense hour of racing with a high pace. I am happy to have contributed to the success of this event and I want to thank everyone for a great day.”
“It’s nice to have an event like this in Monaco that manages to bring cycling even closer to the people, the children and the fans,” commented Matej Mohoric, “giving them the chance to see the champions they follow on TV live. It was a tough race from the start, I tried to win with a solo action but they caught me when there were only two laps to go: behind me were the most competitive riders on the world stage.”
“Beking is incredible,” explained Michael Matthews. “I’ve lived in Monaco for ten years, I ride my bike on these roads every single day, I have a five-year-old daughter and it’s really important for me to be here to support the charities and road safety for the kids, as well as helping them get into cycling. The race was very hard, I went out this morning to train a bit and came back to town in the afternoon to be ready to tackle this circuit which I find really beautiful, with the two hairpins that make it even more dynamic. Tadej and Phil and I broke away at the right time, but he was simply the strongest today.”
The day also offered a unique opportunity for the amateurs, sport ambassadors and women elite to have fun and race in the name of solidarity.
The day was in fact opened by the Pro-Am charity performance.
The team captained by Philippe GIlbert and Clement Champoussin took first, followed by the team of Matej Mohoric and Robert Stannard, finished in second. The team of Peter Sagan and Matteo Moschetti completed the podium.
The proceeds, resulting from the race entries, will then be added to the proceeds of the charity auction – to be held this evening – to translate into valuable and concrete aid to support the charities involved in the project.
The children were the real stars of the project. A packed group of youngsters lined up at the start of Port Hercule to take on the race together with their parents to have fun in complete safety on the course, which turned into a real celebration as well as an exciting moment of shared sport.
It was a real success with the public, who gathered again this year in Monaco for a second edition which, in addition to confirming expectations, demonstrates how the topics of sustainable mobility, road safety and the role of sport in the social fabric are of the highest priority today.
“Today was a special day for all two-wheel enthusiasts,” said Claudia Morandini on behalf of CMT and AWE Sport, organisers of the event. “The professionals put on a great show for those present and Gilbert ended a fantastic career in style. The involvement of the children in the morning event was the most exciting moment. Young people are our future and that is what we want to focus on. I want to thank all the people who made this event possible: from the riders, to the institutions, associations, partners and volunteers who ensured the safety of the event. Ours is an event that is still taking its first steps and that we want to make grow with the help of all those who, like us, put the future of children and helping others first.”
