The race for the 2022 Longines Global Champions Tour title has shifted up a gear, as the Championship returns to the French Riviera to Cannes where three out of the top five in the LGCT ranking will be in action.
After the red carpet was rolled out in Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez previously this month, the Tour made a pit stop last week in Hamburg before cruising along to the world-famous destination of Cannes, where an A-list line-up of show jumping stars will be out in force. It’s set to be an edge-of-the-seat weekend of sport, as the best riders in the world will be gunning for points as they fight for the coveted LGCT title.
After his home win last weekend Christian Ahlmann now leads the championship race and he will be looking for another strong podium position to widen his lead from the rest of the pack. Breathing down his neck is Belgium's Pieter Devos on the same number of points but yet to add a LGCT Grand Prix win to his name this season. While third in the Championship Niels Bruynseels will also return to try and defend his title in the LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes and pick up a golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague.
The world’s best will be pulling out all the stops for a win in Cannes. Big names such as Henrik von Eckermann, Shane Breen, Max Kuhner, Maikel van der Vleuten, Daniel Deusser, Bart Bles, Harrie Smolders, Ben Maher, Jessica Springsteen, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Laura Kraut, Evelina Tovek, Abdel Said, Maurice Tebbel, Christian Kukuk, Brian Moggre, Scott Brash, Spencer Smith, Olivier and Nicola Philippaerts will all be hoping they can take centre stage.
The French riders will also be bringing some famous faces to this home show with Simon Delestre, Kevin Staut, Julien Epaillard, Roger-Yves Bost, Olivier Robert, Jeanne Sadran and Julien Anquetin.
The City of Stars, and just a stone's throw from the world-famous La Croisette, the LGCT of Cannes event is a remarkable combination of glamour and top-class sport. Held under the glittering evening lights, and positioned close to the Mediterranean Port of Cannes with the super-yachts in the bay, the second of the French events of the Tour is a very special horse show in the heart of the French Riviera. The original ‘International Show Jumping of Cannes’ was one of the world's richest horse shows, with prize money continuing to increase since the show joined the Tour. Now a regular fixture on the LGCT calendar, the show has grown every year and welcomes over 15,000 visitors through its gates each summer.
Drawn by the incredible level of sport on offer and the collection of international show jumping stars in attendance, visitors enjoy the ambience, glamour and nightlife of this famous city, home of course to the dazzling Cannes Film Festival. Find out who the spotlight will shine on and which names will be added to the star-studded list of previous winners this Saturday at 21.15 local time - all live on GCTV.
My vision is clear. Only the best for the best.