City of Light, Moment of Glory: Kühner Wins Longines Global Champions Tour of Paris Grand Prix

With the Eiffel Tower standing proudly over the iconic Champ de Mars arena, Max Kühner and EIC Up Too Jacco Blue produced a performance worthy of the Paris stage to claim victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris  2026 presented by Ville de Paris.

In front of packed grandstands and under immense pressure, the Austrian rider delivered a superb double clear, stopping the clock in a blistering 38.36 seconds in the jump-off to secure his first Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win of the season. The victory not only earned Kühner the coveted golden ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix at the GC Riyadh Playoffs, but also propelled him to second in the overall Championship standings, just five points behind leader Abdel Saïd.

Joining Kühner on the podium was Ireland's Denis Lynch, who once again demonstrated his trademark consistency aboard Cordial with a polished double clear in 39.89 seconds, while France's Olivier Perreau delighted the home crowd by guiding GL Events Dorai d'Aiguilly to third place with another faultless performance in 39.99 seconds.

Adding to the glamour of the occasion, the prize-giving ceremony brought together an array of distinguished guests beneath the Eiffel Tower. The awards were presented by Charlotte Casiraghi, while the Longines watch was awarded by Patrick Aoun, President & CEO of Longines. The winner's trophy was presented jointly by Virginie Coupérie-Eiffel, Founder and President of Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping, and Jan Tops, Founder and President of the Longines Global Champions Tour. Watching the action unfold from the VIP hospitality was actor Lucien Laviscount, alongside members of the cast and creative team behind the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris, adding an extra touch of Parisian star power to an already unforgettable evening.

On a night where only four riders managed to jump double clear, Paris once again delivered a spectacular showcase of world-class sport, with the finest margins deciding one of the most prestigious victories on the Longines Global Champions Tour calendar.

Returning to the top step of the Longines Global Champions Tour podium for the first time since his runner-up finish in the LGCT Grand Prix of Monaco in 2024, Max Kühner delivered a masterclass aboard EIC Up Too Jacco Blue to claim victory in Paris. Reflecting on the achievement, an emotional Kühner said: "Fantastic. Quite a long time ago I won my last one, so I'm always happy when it happens again."

Faced with a demanding test against many of the world's best combinations, Kühner credited his horse as the deciding factor in the jump-off. "The main difference was the horse. He's a naturally fast horse, so I just needed to use this flow and then I knew we would be quite quick," he explained.

The victory also carried extra meaning, with one of EIC Up Too Jacco Blue's owners celebrating a birthday in Paris. "One of the owners was joining us here and watching the show and celebrating his birthday, so for sure this is a very nice birthday present today," said Kühner with a smile.

No stranger to success in the French capital, Kühner once again praised the unique atmosphere generated beneath the Eiffel Tower, adding: "Paris always gives a very nice impression - fantastic atmosphere with the crowd and the venue. It's really once in a lifetime."

Olivier Perreau delighted the home crowd with a superb third-place finish, producing another standout performance in front of the Eiffel Tower. Partnering his horse to a place on the podium, Perreau said, "The jump-off was not really quick, but it's okay. It's a good place today and I'm really happy."

Cheered on by an enthusiastic French audience throughout the evening, Perreau spoke about the significance of competing on home soil: "To be here in France and jump in front of the Eiffel Tower, with no travelling needed, is a wonderful experience. It's really special and it's a beautiful show." The podium finish capped another impressive weekend for the French rider in Paris

Championship Battle Intensifies

Seven stages into the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour season, the race for the title is beginning to take shape. Consistency has been key, but with Monaco next on the calendar and plenty of points still available, the battle remains wide open:

Abdel Saïd (BEL) – 140 points

Max Kühner (AUT) – 135 points

Katrin Eckermann (GER) – 127 points

Simon Delestre (FRA) – 118.67 points

Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) – 118.67 points

A Course That Offered No Margin for Error

Designed to test every aspect of horse and rider, the opening round proved a stern examination with the tight 79-second time allowed catching out even the most established combinations. While the fences largely stayed in place for some, the clock became the biggest obstacle. France's Mégane Moissonnier aboard Crooner Tame, Pim Mulder with Viktor Z and Kim Emmen riding Hellix du Seigneur all produced rounds with the jumps intact, only to see valuable jump-off places disappear through costly time penalties.

There was heartbreak too for several of the sport's biggest names. Defending Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris winner Gilles Thomas and Luna van het Dennehof missed out on a return to the jump-off with a single rail down, while previous LGCT Champion Edwina Tops-Alexander aboard Caetlin vd Heffinck Z suffered the same fate. Championship stars Peder Fredricson with SV Vroom de la Pomme Z and Henrik von Eckermann aboard King Edward were also left watching on after picking up just four faults apiece in otherwise impressive rounds.

The challenging track claimed further victims with a number of retirements throughout the class. Nadja Peter Steiner, Ines Joly, Nicola Philippaerts, Jennifer Hochstaedter and Sheikh Ali Khalid Al Thani all opted to retire before completing the course as the technical questions continued to take their toll.

By the end of round one, only six combinations had managed to answer every question posed by the course designer and secure their place in a highly anticipated jump-off, setting the stage for a thrilling battle beneath the Eiffel Tower.

Six Riders, One Crown

Christian Ahlmann & Untouched LB were first to tackle the jump-off and immediately laid down a marker. The former Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris winner rode a composed and efficient round, stopping the clock in 40.29 seconds. It wasn't the fastest pace imaginable, but the German delivered exactly what mattered most – a double clear – applying pressure to every rider still to come.

Paris has often been a happy hunting ground for Lillie Keenan & Fasther, and the American looked determined to add another chapter to her impressive record in the French capital. Attacking from the outset, she was comfortably quicker than the benchmark, but an early rail proved costly. Despite crossing the line in 39.91 seconds, the four faults left her wondering what might have been and whether a third consecutive Paris podium was slipping away.

Next into the arena, Charlotte Leoni & Cyclone l'Epivent elected for a slightly steadier approach. The French rider had the home crowd firmly behind her, but when a fence hit the sand the hopes of a fairytale result disappeared. She completed the course in 45.47 seconds, finishing on four faults despite an otherwise polished effort.

Then came Max Kühner & EIC Up Too Jacco Blue. From the very first fence the Austrian combination looked in a different gear. Smooth, direct and relentlessly quick, Kühner never seemed to break stride as he sliced through the track. The clock stopped at a blistering 38.36 seconds, launching him into the lead and setting a target that suddenly looked very difficult to catch.

The atmosphere reached fever pitch as hometown favourite Olivier Perreau & GL Events Dorai d'Aiguilly entered the arena. Roared on by the Paris crowd, Perreau threw everything at the course and delivered a superb double clear. His time of 39.99 seconds wasn't quite enough to overhaul Kühner, but it was good enough to move into second and send the grandstands into celebration.

Last to go were Denis Lynch & Cordial. The Irishman knew exactly what was required and left nothing in reserve. Riding a naturally less explosive horse than some of his rivals, Lynch still produced a wonderfully efficient round, stopping the clock in 39.89 seconds. It was enough to edge ahead of Perreau and secure second place, but not enough to deny Max Kühner and EIC Up Too Jacco Blue a magnificent victory beneath the Eiffel Tower.

From the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower to the glamour of Port Hercule, the Longines Global Champions Tour now heads to Monaco for Stage 8 from 2-4 July. With the championship battle heating up and the season entering a crucial phase, every fence, every second and every point will carry even greater significance.

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