ABDEL SAÏD STRIKES RIVIERA GOLD IN LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR GRAND PRIX OF CANNES
With France at the centre of the sporting world this weekend - the spotlight on Saturday night belonged firmly to Cannes. As superyachts lined the bay, with the Mediterranean shimmering beyond the arena and a sold-out crowd creating an electric atmosphere, Abdel Saïd and Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof stole the spotlight in the €500,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes presented by La Ville de Cannes.
In an electric jump-off packed with world-class talent, the Belgian rider stopped the clock in a lightning-fast 39.44 seconds to claim one of the most coveted titles of the season, ahead of Michael Pender and HHS Cyprus, while Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and Cellagon Cascais completed the podium after a thrilling night of top sport on the Côte d'Azur.
Securing his eighth Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix podium, Saïd reflected on his win tonight. He said, "She’s quite green at this level, and I’m very grateful to her. When you have crowds like this, they really motivate us to go for it. She answered every single question tonight - she’s unbelievable. We had to take a chance, and she answered all the questions again and showed me she can do it."
Michael Pender was clearly thrilled by his win claiming “I am absolutely delighted!”
He went on to add, “Cyprus is only 10 and this is the first time jumping an LGCT Grand Prix and one of this size so I couldn’t be more delighted with second palace. Normally I may not be happy with second… but he really stepped up to the game.”
Previous winner in 2023 of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann reflected, “I think it could be a style class with the way I am able to ride this horse, he really jumped so perfectly. Perhaps I could’ve pushed a little more in some spaces but what can I say? I think perhaps this is the next step to come!”
The battle for the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship took another dramatic twist in Cannes as Simon Delestre stays top spot with 118.67 points ahead of Katrin Eckermann on 104 points, while LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes winner Abdel Said's sensational victory on the French Riviera propelled him into third on 100 points. Cian O'Connor sits fourth on 85 points, while Zoe Hank Conter completes a fiercely competitive top five on 84 points. With just 34.67 points separating the leading five riders and ten championship stages still to come, the battle for the coveted LGCT crown is wide open heading into St Tropez next week.
Course designer Uliano Vezzani once again delivered a great course design, producing a 1.60m test that demanded precision, bravery and absolute concentration from the world's best combinations. A star-studded field of 40 riders set out in pursuit of a place in the jump-off, but Cannes proved unforgiving.
A single rail heartbreakingly denied several major contenders their shot at victory. Cian O'Connor and Gospel Tame, Pieter Devos and Primo DV, and Philipp Weishaupt aboard Chaquitos PS all saw their hopes dashed by just four faults, proving how little separated success from disappointment. Across the field, rails fell at crucial moments as Vezzani's technical questions caught out even the most experienced combinations, leaving many of the favourites watching the jump-off from the sidelines.
With four of the world's best returning for the jump-off, the €500,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes came down to a breathtaking race against the clock. First to tackle the shortened track, Michael Pender threw everything at it aboard HHS Cyprus. Riding a horse still gaining experience at the highest level of 1.60m jump-offs, the Irishman delivered a superb double clear in 41.35 seconds, immediately laying down the gauntlet and asking a big question of those still to come.
A former winner of this very class, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann knew exactly what it takes to triumph in Cannes. Partnering Cellagon Cascais, the German rider produced another polished clear round, but her time of 43.44 seconds left her 2.09 seconds adrift of Pender, slotting into second and leaving her waiting to see if history could repeat itself.
Then came Abdel Saïd. From the very first fence, Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof never seemed to touch the ground. Slicing angles, attacking every turn and gaining time at every split, the Belgian left absolutely nothing in reserve. The gamble paid off in spectacular fashion as he stopped the clock in 39.44 seconds, almost two seconds quicker than Pender, smashing into the lead and leaving just one rider standing between him and glory.
Last into the arena, Andreas Schou knew a maiden Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix victory would also secure a coveted golden ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Riyadh. Riding Napoli vh Nederassenthof, the Dane came out fighting and looked set to challenge the lead, but a daring inside turn proved costly when the oxer at fence five hit the sand. The only rider to incur faults in the jump-off, Schou crossed the line with four faults in 43.54 seconds, confirming Abdel Said and Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof as the winners of a thrilling Cannes showdown.
From drama to jump-off thrillers, Cannes once again proved why it remains one of the crown jewels of the Longines Global Champions Tour calendar. Against the backdrop of one of the biggest sporting weekends in France.
As the Riviera roadshow rolls on, the championship now heads just along the coast to Ramatuelle, Saint-Tropez, from 11-13 June. With the battle for both the Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL titles intensifying at every stage, the next chapter promises more world-class sport, more drama and another unmissable weekend in one of the most iconic destinations on the circuit.
--ENDS--
Photo by LGCT
Full results here