The GCL First Team Competition at CSI5* level in Riesenbeck, serving as the qualifying class for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix, delivered an exciting battle against the clock. Ireland's Cian O'Connor emerged victorious, while Christian Kukuk, Antoine Ermann, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Gilles Thomas completed the top five.
Aboard Chatolinue PS (Diablo Blanco), Cian O'Connor produced the fastest clear round of the day, stopping the clock in 73.29 seconds to secure victory. Germany's Christian Kukuk came closest to challenging the Irishman, guiding Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut) to second place in 73.38 seconds, just nine hundredths of a second behind. France's Antoine Ermann completed the podium with Floyd des Pres (Vigo Cece), crossing the finish line fault-free in 74.59 seconds.
Brazil's Marlon Modolo Zanotelli steered Dorette OLD (Dollar du Murier) to fourth place with another clear effort in 75.18 seconds, while Belgium's Gilles Thomas rounded out the top five aboard Ermitage Kalone (Catoki) in 75.51 seconds. The five highest-placed combinations all produced faultless rounds in the 1.60m Grand Prix qualifier.
