The 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour moves swiftly from Cannes to neighbouring St Tropez this week, with another high-profile gathering of the sport’s leading riders set to take centre stage on the French Riviera from June 11-13.
The championship picture remains finely balanced after an eventful stop in Cannes, and attention now turns to Ramatuelle, where valuable points and qualification opportunities will once again be on offer. With the season approaching its midpoint, performances in St Tropez could prove increasingly significant in shaping the title race.
Longines Global Champions Tour St Tropez.
Fresh from his impressive Grand Prix victory in Cannes, Belgian rider Abdel Said arrives with renewed momentum after his success aboard Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof elevated him to third place in the overall standings. The result has placed him firmly among the leading contenders as the championship battle gathers pace.
While current series leader Simon Delestre will not feature this week, several of his nearest challengers have an opportunity to close the gap. Katrin Eckermann, Michael Pender, Zoe Hank Conter, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Max KĂĽhner and Denis Lynch are among the riders aiming to strengthen their positions as the standings continue to tighten.
The German challenge is headed by reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk, who is joined by an experienced supporting cast including Marcus Ehning, Hans-Dieter Dreher and Maximilian Weishaupt. Fellow German Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann also arrives in confident mood following a string of encouraging performances during the Riviera leg of the season.
Home support will be firmly behind a strong French contingent. Jeanne Sadran returns after her recent appearance in Cannes and will compete alongside Gregory Cottard, Julien Anquetin, Arthur Levot, Jean-Luc Mourier, Alexa Ferrer, CĂ©dric Angot and Ines Joly.
The international line-up is further strengthened by the presence of Olivier Philippaerts, Peder Fredricson, Maikel van der Vleuten, Andreas Schou, Marlon Zanotelli, Kim Emmen, Thibeau Spits, Niels Bruynseels, Jur Vrieling, Sergio Alvarez Moya, Emanuele Gaudiano, Jérôme Guéry, Eduardo Pereira de Menezes, Giacomo Casadei, Oliver Fletcher and Sara Vingralkova.
Beyond the quality of the field, the venue itself remains one of the most distinctive stops on the calendar. Built on a natural hillside overlooking the Mediterranean coastline, the St Tropez arena presents a unique technical challenge where rhythm, balance and precision often prove decisive.
The Longines Global Champions Tour St Tropez meeting has earned a reputation for combining elite competition with the atmosphere of the French Riviera. Visitors and competitors alike are drawn to the destination’s coastal setting, making it one of the most anticipated events of the season.
With a capacity crowd expected and championship implications growing with every stage, anticipation is building ahead of another important weekend. The Longines Global Champions Tour St Tropez event promises to provide fresh twists in the battle for one of show jumping’s most prestigious titles.
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