Beneath the glittering lights of the French Riviera, the second day of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Cannes delivered an evening of elite show jumping that thrilled a packed grandstand. The feature class of the night—the CSI5* GCTV 1.50m jump-off—had all the ingredients of a blockbuster, and Spain’s Mariano Martinez Bastida played the lead role to perfection aboard his veteran partner Belano vd Wijnhoeve Z.
From a starting lineup of 40 elite pairs, just under half managed to clear the technical opening course, punching their tickets to a high-stakes jump-off where precision and daring defined success. The atmosphere was electric as Bastida was the first to test the shortened course. He wasted no time, attacking every turn with clinical intent and stopping the clock at a blistering 36.83 seconds—a time that proved unbeatable.
As each of the 17 remaining riders took their turn, the crowd watched with bated breath. Germany’s Marco Kutscher came close but was edged out by just fractions. Austria’s Max Kühner once again delivered a polished ride, but even his speed couldn’t dislodge the Spaniard from pole position. Meanwhile, Harry Charles, one of Britain’s brightest young talents, put in a stylish round, finishing fifth.
But the drama peaked when local favorite Simon Delestre entered the ring. Riding his talented grey mare Acatitla LS, Delestre carried not just his own ambition but the collective hopes of the home crowd. His round was fluid and fierce, and as he crossed the final line clear, all eyes shot to the scoreboard—37.43 seconds. The cheers were mixed with gasps. He was just six-tenths too slow.
The win marked not just a standout individual achievement for Bastida but capped a sensational 48 hours for the Spaniard, who also contributed to a St Tropez Pirates team victory the previous evening. With teammates Max Wachman and Duarte Seabra, his weekend is shaping up as one for the history books.
As the crowd dispersed and anticipation shifted to Saturday night’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes, one truth remained: this leg of the tour is offering some of the most unforgettable action of the year.
