Riders to Face Big Technical Test at GCT Cannes

Global Champions Tour Show Director Marco Danese has predicted some big technical challenges for the world's leading riders at the fifth leg of the series in Cannes later this week.

He said it will be 'all change' as the top rider and horse combinations compete at the sand arena on the French Riviera, in contrast to the huge grass arenas at the previous two shows in Hamburg and Wiesbaden.

Marco said: 'One of the really significant things about the GCT series is that the events always have different technical conditions, which means the riders are constantly being tested. The quality of the riders is excellent and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the sand arena in Cannes, where the people in the stands are all more close up. It is a completely different atmosphere and ambience compared to jumping in the bigger grass arenas at the GCT events in Hamburg and Wiesbaden.'

'We also have a different course designer here in Cannes, Uliano Vezzani, who was also in Doha. Uliano will present different technical challenges for the riders who have just been competing on the courses designed by Frank Rothenberger at the GCT events in Germany.'

French rider Olivier Guillon took first place at the last show in Wiesbaden and will be on home territory in Cannes, where Edwina Tops-Alexander was victorious last year (pictured right after her 2011 win) for the second year running. Marco said: 'Everyone will be interested to see if the French riders win at home.'

The first four events of the season have all featured different winning riders on the podiums, making the outcome of the overall championship unpredictable as the GCT circuit marches towards the finale in November.

Marco explained: 'It means the competition is really open and that is a good thing in terms of sport and excitement for the spectators and TV audiences as the series progresses. It also shows the high quality of the riders and horses on the GCT circuit today and the extremely high level of competition.'

Marco also said a lot of the top-ranked riders are able to hone their preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games in London by taking part in the top-level GCT Grand Prix.

Eurosport on Foxtel channel 511 will broadcast the Cannes Global Champions Tour Grand Prix on Monday 18 June commencing at 6:15am AEST and again on Wednesday 20 June at 11:00am and 7pm AEST as well as Sunday 24 June at 9:30am. (Please be advised that broadcast times are subject to change and viewers should check the Eurosport website).

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