Seven of the top ten riders in the world will be in action for the Longines Global Champions Tour - Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping this weekend, as the Championship series races towards the 8th leg of the season. Set against the backdrop of the iconic Eiffel Tower, the French capital will play host to the world’s top show jumping athletes as the very best international horses and riders battle for the overall LGCT ranking lead. New LGCT Ranking leader and World Number 6 Christian Ahlmann (GER) will return to Paris, bringing with him his top horses, including formidable stallion Taloubet Z. With the Championship title in mind, Christian will be fighting hard for another strong podium result this weekend, however will need to fend off the likes of two-time LGCT Champion Scott Brash (GBR), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Daniel Deusser (GER) and long-term leader Lorenzo de Luca (ITA)who will be hungry to take back the highly coveted LGCT Ranking armband. The points at the top of the leaderboard are nail-bitingly close, with Ahlmann on 154 overall, just four away from Harrie Smolders (NED) who has a tally of 150 this season so far. There will be everything to play for this weekend, and the Dutch star will be back with a vengeance, hoping to regain control of the Championship fight to keep his title dream alive. Furthermore, on-formAlberto Zorzi (ITA) will be in action this weekend, fresh from his Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix de Prince du Monaco Presented by Sapinda win, and looks dangerously close to taking over the top spot. His consistent results means he sits on a score of 145 points overall - less than 10 away from the lead - and could leap up the leaderboard if his run of strong results continue. Local fans will have plenty to cheer about in Paris, as home heroes - including all of the 2016 Rio Olympic Team Gold Medal winning team - will be out in force and hoping for a home turf win. Simon Delestre (FRA), Kevin Staut (FRA), Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), Philippe Rozier (FRA), Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), Patrice Delaveau (FRA), and Julien Epaillard (FRA) will be in action for this leg of the Championship, joining the star studded field of international riders in Paris. This iconic 8th stage of the international Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League circuit will bring together the best riders worldwide, including Olympic medallists, World Champions and the top international riders as well as many well-known personalities and passionate equestrians. This year the event will also increase its capacity, with 2500 spectators able to take a seat in one of the two tribunes and enjoy a glorious view of the arena. Alongside world class sport will be the Longines Global Champions Tour - Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping “Grand Village” - a place of discovery (animations, exhibitions, initiation workshops) for the entire family, where arts, crafts and gastronomy take centre stage. There will be a host of top names in Paris, with plenty of this season's former Grand Prix winners looking for a double win. Jérôme Guery (BEL) and Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) will be back and revved up to repeat their success from earlier in the season, as well as former LGCT Paris Grand Prix winner Bertram Allen (IRL) who made history in 2015 by becoming the youngest LGCT Grand Prix victor ever. They’ll be joined by heavy-weight names such as Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Marcus Ehning (GER), Laura Kraut (USA), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), Eric van der Vleuten (NED), Ben Maher (GBR), Lauren Hough (USA) and Peder Fredricson (SWE). One of the most visited cities in the world, Paris is brimming with famous attractions and landmarks, as well as boasting a high concentration of national and international political, scientific and cultural institutions and has the largest business district in Europe. A legendary centre of fashion and haute couture tailoring, Paris Fashion Week is still the most celebrated event in the fashion world. The eighth event on the Tour will be a unique sporting, social and cultural spectacular, set once again against the backdrop of one of the world's most iconic landmarks, the Eiffel Tower. The action kicks off on Friday 30th June and will see three days of show jumping to Sunday 2nd July. For the full rider list, please click here.
Seven of the top ten riders in the world will be in action for the Longines Global Champions Tour - Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping this weekend, as the Championship series races towards the 8th leg of the season. Set against the backdrop of the iconic Eiffel Tower, the French capital will play host to the world’s top show jumping athletes as the very best international horses and riders battle for the overall LGCT ranking lead. New LGCT Ranking leader and World Number 6 Christian Ahlmann (GER) will return to Paris, bringing with him his top horses, including formidable stallion Taloubet Z. With the Championship title in mind, Christian will be fighting hard for another strong podium result this weekend, however will need to fend off the likes of two-time LGCT Champion Scott Brash (GBR), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Daniel Deusser (GER) and long-term leader Lorenzo de Luca (ITA)who will be hungry to take back the highly coveted LGCT Ranking armband. The points at the top of the leaderboard are nail-bitingly close, with Ahlmann on 154 overall, just four away from Harrie Smolders (NED) who has a tally of 150 this season so far. There will be everything to play for this weekend, and the Dutch star will be back with a vengeance, hoping to regain control of the Championship fight to keep his title dream alive. Furthermore, on-formAlberto Zorzi (ITA) will be in action this weekend, fresh from his Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix de Prince du Monaco Presented by Sapinda win, and looks dangerously close to taking over the top spot. His consistent results means he sits on a score of 145 points overall - less than 10 away from the lead - and could leap up the leaderboard if his run of strong results continue. Local fans will have plenty to cheer about in Paris, as home heroes - including all of the 2016 Rio Olympic Team Gold Medal winning team - will be out in force and hoping for a home turf win. Simon Delestre (FRA), Kevin Staut (FRA), Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), Philippe Rozier (FRA), Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), Patrice Delaveau (FRA), and Julien Epaillard (FRA) will be in action for this leg of the Championship, joining the star studded field of international riders in Paris. This iconic 8th stage of the international Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League circuit will bring together the best riders worldwide, including Olympic medallists, World Champions and the top international riders as well as many well-known personalities and passionate equestrians. This year the event will also increase its capacity, with 2500 spectators able to take a seat in one of the two tribunes and enjoy a glorious view of the arena. Alongside world class sport will be the Longines Global Champions Tour - Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping “Grand Village” - a place of discovery (animations, exhibitions, initiation workshops) for the entire family, where arts, crafts and gastronomy take centre stage. There will be a host of top names in Paris, with plenty of this season's former Grand Prix winners looking for a double win. Jérôme Guery (BEL) and Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) will be back and revved up to repeat their success from earlier in the season, as well as former LGCT Paris Grand Prix winner Bertram Allen (IRL) who made history in 2015 by becoming the youngest LGCT Grand Prix victor ever. They’ll be joined by heavy-weight names such as Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Marcus Ehning (GER), Laura Kraut (USA), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), Eric van der Vleuten (NED), Ben Maher (GBR), Lauren Hough (USA) and Peder Fredricson (SWE). One of the most visited cities in the world, Paris is brimming with famous attractions and landmarks, as well as boasting a high concentration of national and international political, scientific and cultural institutions and has the largest business district in Europe. A legendary centre of fashion and haute couture tailoring, Paris Fashion Week is still the most celebrated event in the fashion world. The eighth event on the Tour will be a unique sporting, social and cultural spectacular, set once again against the backdrop of one of the world's most iconic landmarks, the Eiffel Tower. The action kicks off on Friday 30th June and will see three days of show jumping to Sunday 2nd July. For the full rider list, please click here.