Opening the doors to the fans
Today we opened the doors and welcomed in the fans of Barcelona. Elite Red Bull athletes performed daring stunts, teams of cyclors raced on the waterfront outside our Base, and the city got a taste of the America’s Cup experience ahead of the full event that’s fast approaching.
We’re always looking to give back to the community that has embraced us so warmly, so we were blown away by the turnout with almost 10’000 people. There were meet-and-greets with all the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team members, with fans getting a behind-the-scenes look at the talent and teamwork that goes into an America’s Cup campaign. Alinghi Red Bull Racing is where water and wings come together in the pursuit of peak performance, so to celebrate the day it was only right that we invited Red Bull’s top paragliders and cliff divers to join us on the seafront.
World champions Horacio Llorens and Bicho Carrera wowed the crowds with their acrobatic paramotor displays, swooping just metres away. A team of world-class Red Bull cliff divers – including Jonathan Paredes, Yana Nestsiarava, and Switzerland’s Pierrick Schafer – put on a spectacular synchronised diving show, leaping 20 metres from our team’s AC40 yacht suspended above the water.
For the world’s first-ever Cyclors Cup, Alinghi Red Bull Racing cyclors – normally used to cycling onboard BoatOne – got out on the water for an exciting water bike race, facing stiff competition from INEOS Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand, plus a special all-star Spanish team made up of local sportsmen, journalists and influencers including Javi Sancho, Willy Foxx, Jose Hermida and Marc Bernad from Diario AS. Competing for the trophy – which was inspired by Gaudí’s Warrior de La Pedrera – it was a tight race between the Swiss and the Kiwis, but in the end the home team got the glory and were crowned the reigning Cyclors Cup champions.
Swiss cyclor Augustin Maillefer appreciated the chance to meet the fans and welcome them to the Base: “We love sharing our journey with the local community, and the support from the people of Barcelona gives us even more motivation and energy for the races ahead. Barcelona has been our home for the past two years now, so we kind of feel like locals ourselves now!”
In the power cycling challenge, the day’s strongest cyclists was Maksim Gorbunov (men) who beat out 220 other contenders to win an exclusive chase boat experience out on the water to follow our race team as they sail the AC75. All participants took part in a draw to win a Stromer ST3 Alinghi Red Bull Racing limited edition.
The Open Doors Day was a huge success, all thanks to the Red Bull athletes, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team members, the cyclors joining the Cyclors Cup and most importantly, the fans who came to celebrate and lend their support to our challenge for the 37th America’s Cup.
Now, with just 40 days left until the first races in Barcelona begin, we’re full speed ahead on training and preparation. No more fun and games – it’s time to focus!
This was the last chance for an all-access pass to our Team Base, but there’s still time to visit our FanZone, situated on the first floor of our Base in Port Vell. Doors are open from 12-8pm Wednesday – Sunday, right up until racing starts. Bring your friends and family down to come and meet the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team – everyone is invited! Full details here.
