Monaco, 24th November 2024 – The fourth edition of Beking has come to an end, having started in the rain and finished under a cloudy, threatening sky, but the event once again managed to excite and engage. The overall winner was reigning World Champion Tadej Pogacar, who triumphed after completing 20 laps of this shortened edition with a flawless performance, proving that nothing can stop Beking from fulfilling its mission.
“Beking is really a fantastic event and I’m always happy to take part every year,” said a satisfied Pogacar. “Even though the weather wasn’t ideal, the race was still fun. I’m especially happy to have won here because we don’t race in Monaco very often. It’s always a special experience. I’m grateful to Matteo and the whole team for continuing to organise this event for such an important cause. It’s inspiring to see so many people out in the rain showing their support and helping to spread the message. The event has grown year on year and it’s exciting to see so many children taking part. This is crucial for the future of the sport, for sustainability and for the values that Beking stands for. I’ve also seen an increase in the number of people using bikes in general, which is definitely a positive sign that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Completing the prestigious podium were Mads Pedersen and Michael Matthews in second and third place respectively, making the competition even more exciting and close until the very last kilometre.
Peter Sagan, special guest, said: “Monaco is home to so many professionals and it’s a real privilege to have them all here year after year to support the important messages of Beking. It’s also logistically easy to reach, with so many people coming to meet their idols and cheer them on along the course. Beking is a fantastic idea, it started well and now in its fourth edition it is getting better every year. I’m always happy to participate, even though I didn’t race this time, it was important to support the cause.”
Despite the inclement weather, the atmosphere remained electric, offering fans moments of pure adrenaline as a group of internationally renowned riders battled it out at strategic points around the circuit. Porto S. Hercule was the beating heart of the event, with a series of exciting races, starting with the Pro-Am, where amateurs had the chance to compete alongside their idols, followed by 50 brave young riders who didn’t let the weather intimidate them, and ending with the professional criterium.
Once again, the event proved to be an important fixture on the cycling calendar, meeting the expectations, as Matteo Trentin confirmed at the end of the criterium: “This year we were really tested by the weather, but my colleagues and the sponsors didn’t leave us alone. We couldn’t be more grateful for their support. We decided to reduce the number of laps, but not the spectacle. This morning we all got together and unanimously decided to go ahead with the race. It was fantastic, an unforgettable atmosphere. We did it again. I’m happy”.
Claudia Morandini, co-founder and owner of CMT, echoed his sentiments: “This is our fourth edition and we’ve never faced weather conditions like this. It wasn’t easy, but now I’m more relaxed because everything went well. The riders were absolutely incredible and nobody backed down. Understandably, there were fewer people on the course, but the fans still gave us their full support. It was nice to see that the solidarity never stopped.”
Romy Gai, President of AWE International and an active participant in the event since its inception, also expressed his satisfaction: “I really believe there’s potential for many more editions of Beking because the enthusiasm and passion of both the fans and the athletes is extraordinary. You can see they’re having fun and dedicating a day to doing something good. Every year we’ve had great participation from top champions like Peter Sagan, Elia Viviani and Tadej Pogacar, to name but a few. It’s a winning combination: passion, commitment and an event that does good. The weather may not have been on our side, but everything went as we hoped”.
