Longines Global Champions Tour, Lausanne: WEG Team Gold medallist Maikel van der Vleuten wins the Prix de Canton de Vaud

Source: News Release

WEG Team Gold medallist Maikel van der Vleuten wins the Prix de Canton de Vaud

(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

Tonight’s feature class, the CSI5* Prix de Canton de Vaud was won by 2014 World Championship Team Gold medallist and Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid Grand Prix winner Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) with VDL Groep Eureka, who took the victory by over a second from 2nd placed Doda de Miranda (BRA) with AD Nouvelle Europe Z. Third went to home rider Jane Richard Philips (SUI) with Upanisad di San Patrignano, who finished less than 0.5s behind Miranda.

The crowd followed every rider’s round with energetic enthusiasm, cheering the clears and groaning with disappointment when poles were lowered. Luc Musette’s two-phase course harboured a few deceptively tricky fences. No1 proved to be rather spooky to the younger, less experienced horses who were suspicious of the way shadows fell across the fence. Though the obstacle itself rarely fell - many horses jumped extra-high to clear it - it’s fear-factor served to encourage mistakes from unsettled mounts later in the course.

The upright going into the last short one-stride double and the back rail of the wide oxer coming out also hit the sand a number of times, as did the final fence - the Longines plank. At the half-way point of the 47-strong class, only five riders had completed the class clear and by the end just nine clears were on the scoreboard. Including Maikel van der Vleuten who led from early in the draw with his tough little mare VDL Groep Eureka, who bravely tried her heart out at every fence.

Strong performances from LGCT Top Ten riders such as Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), Maikel van der Vleuten, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) and Scott Brash (GBR) have set the stage for a fierce battle in tomorrow’s key Grand Prix, the pivotal 12th round of this 14-leg season. With just two Grand Prix remaining until the final in Doha in November, every point counts in the race to be crowned Longines Global Champions Tour Champion 2014. Can any of the other top riders stop 2013 Champion Scott Brash’s sprint finish up the leaderboard?

Watch the Longines Global Champions Tour of Lausanne Grand Prix live tomorrow from 6pm CEST on GCT TV, beIN Sports 9, Equidia Life and ClassHorseTV, and on Eurosport from 8.45pm.

The first CSI5* victory goes to Italy's Luca Moneta with Jesus de la Commune

(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

The opening CSI5* class of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Lausanne was won by Italy’s Luca Maria Moneta and his trusty 17-year-old Jesus de la Commune, who proved that aged is just a number when the heart is willing. Second place went to reigning European Champion Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) with Quaoukoura du Ty, who claimed his ninth top three placing in an LGCT class this season. Third went to the man of the moment, 19-year-old Bertram Allen (IRE) with Belmonde, who burst into the highest levels of the sport this season by winning the first round of the World Championships last week.

This afternoon’s class welcomed an illustrious line-up with no less than six 2014 World Championship medallists taking to the competition arena. Luc Musette’s course caused few problems and offered a welcoming introduction to this gorgeous lake-side arena in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne. Of the 51 starters, 25 jumped a double clear with the top five placed riders all finishing within one second of each other. Event Press Launch at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel (From left to right): Patrice Iseli - Head of Sports Lausanne, Jan Tops - President of LGCT, Juan-Carlos Capelli - VP of Longines & Head of International Marketing, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson - Championship Leader, Jane Richard Philips - Longines Ambassador, Guillaume Canet - actor and rider. "Scott Brash will surely climb the ranking this week and has won three events already. Ludger (Beerbaum) is another dangerous one, he didn’t really succeed last week (at the World Championships) and that makes him even more dangerous here in Lausanne" Championship Leader Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE)

Event Press Launch at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel

(From left to right): Patrice Iseli - Head of Sports Lausanne, Jan Tops - President of LGCT, Juan-Carlos Capelli - VP of Longines & Head of International Marketing, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson - Championship Leader, Jane Richard Philips - Longines Ambassador, Guillaume Canet - actor and rider.

Stars in the Saddle: Lucy Davis and Jane Richard Philips

Look out for our exclusive interview with these two leading lady riders tomorrow on GCT TV ahead of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Lausanne Grand Prix.

London to Lausanne - Season Recap...

2013 LGCT Champion Scott Brash won his third Grand Prix of this year's Championship in London with Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham's incredible Hello Sanctos. Can the World No1 continue his record-breaking winning streak in Lausanne with Hello Annie or will Rolf-Göran Bengtsson be able to defend his narrow lead?