The whole equestrian world witnessed an exhilarating triumph as Lorenzo de Luca, aboard Denver de Talma, captured a heart-stirring victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard. After seven years without an LGCT Grand Prix win, de Luca denied the home crowd a Dutch win at the sold-out Longines Tops International Arena in an electrifying jump-off that will be remembered forever.
The atmosphere in the heart of The Netherlands was nothing short of magical, with cheers, applause, and heartfelt roars echoing through the stands. None more than local hero Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. as they clinched second place, much to the crowd’s delight. It was world number one Henrik von Eckermann who rounded off the sensational podium with Glamour Girl, unleashing a wave of emotion that resonated with fans around the world.
An emotional Lorenzo de Luca was tearing up in his winners interviews showing just how much this meant to him and his team: “I felt everyone cheering for me, even if we stole the Dutch win. But I think we saw very good sport today and I am glad to be on the top of the podium. I believe so much in my horse and I really wanted to give him the best ride because he really deserved to win today. I knew that Henrik was going to be for sure faster, and especially with that horse. He is such an amazing rider, so I really tried my best.”
Securing his ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Riyadh later this year at the GC Playoffs de Luca stated: “I will be going to the Finals in Rabat and the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Riyadh. We’re really focused on those two Grand Prix now for the rest of the year. To win a Grand Prix like that [the LGCT Super Grand Prix], it would mean a lot to me, my team, and my owner who gave me so much confidence and such an amazing horse, and to end the year on a really good note.”
Having never won a 5* Grand Prix on the famous Monaco N.O.P, Harrie Smolders was once again within touching distance telling GCTV: “I am actually very pleased. It was a very tough class today with only five clears, and two double clears, so I am super happy. The jump-off didn’t go totally as I planned. I had wanted to leave one more out to the skinny and had one more to the last than planned. I had to switch during the course and that cost me the win. I am from this area and could feel the crowd wanted me to win and it is an amazing feeling with this atmosphere here!”
World number one Henrik von Eckermann was delighted with his result in the expansive grass arena explaining: “I don’t think I normally would say that I am happy with a third place, but I am because Glamour Girl did a fantastic job. She loves this arena and always jumps terrific here. So, a third place today is fantastic and I am so happy for Lorenzo!”
After the 13th stage of the 2024 Championship and with only two events remaining, even after not qualifying for today’s LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard, Max Kühner still leads on 234 points, while Christian Kukuk closely trails with 209 points. LGCT Championship runner-up last year, Maikel van der Vleuten improves on his score to sit in third on 199 points and Andreas Schou holds onto fourth with 192 points. With just a single rail down in today’s LGCT Grand Prix Sophie Hinners catapults into 5th on 187 points as the battle moves on to Rome.
As the crowd kept growing at the Longines Tops International Arena, the seats were completely sold out and there were cheers, groans and a lot of applause for every rider.
Last year’s winning LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard winning combination Sanne Thijssen and 18-year-old Con Quidam RB were on track to retain their title until the penultimate line, right next to the sold-out grandstands a hind leg caused the bicycle fence to come tumbling down along with their dreams of back to back wins.
Kevin Staut put in a blisting fast round on Dialou Blue PS but an agonising pole falling late kept him out of the jump-off but the fastest on four faults in round one so still set to pick up decent prize money. Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann fell into the same trap as yesterday having the last fence down with Iron Dames Calvino II de Nyze Z again meaning she wouldn’t be a double LGCT Grand Prix winner this year for now. Huge names also missed out with just a single rail down like Philipp Weishaupt, Simon Delestre and Mark McAuley. Proving just how testing track it was as Scott Brash, Marcus Ehning, Nicola Philippaerts, Pieter Devos, Jur Vrieling and Richard Vogel.
Uliano Vizzani designed one of the most challenging LGCT Grand Prix courses of the season, yet the exceptional calibre of horse and rider combinations was evident as 5 clear rounds advanced to the thrilling jump-off.
A happy, champagne-drenched Lorenzo de Luca with Harrie Smolders and Henrik von Eckermann. (Longines Global Champions Tour)
First up Edwina Tops-Alexander put on an epic display for the crowd with her uber mount consistent Fellow Castlefield having been clear in 3 LGCT Grand Prix this season already. Aiming for a repeat of her win in the LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid last year with Fellow Castlefield she set off at a rapid pace looking on track to secure a double clear until the penultimate fence fell to finish on four faults in 42.06 seconds which eventually just left her off the podium in fourth place.
Having already won the previous CSI5* class this morning, Jérôme Guery was on flying form at Longines Tops International Arena. Hoping to make it a 6th Belgium rider qualified for the LGCT Super Grand Prix he kept it neat and tidy Careca LS Elite but an early rail put them right out of contention. Upping the pace even faster didn’t pay off as the rails kept falling to come home on 12 faults but with a solid top 5 finish.
Reigning LGCT Champion Harrie Smolders has won six LGCT Grand Prix with six different horses but never on the famous Monaco N.O.P. Having jumped 129 LGCT Grand Prix rounds and clear in 49 of them that stats had Harrie as the favourite. Showing his pure class once again, the crowd erupted as he delivered a foot perfect in 41.26 seconds guaranteeing himself a spot on the podium but also a nervous wait to see if he had done enough and finally break the sting of second place 5* Grand Prix finishes on Monaco N.O.P…
Lorenzo de Luca set hearts racing on Denver de Talma as he put the pedal to the metal hungry for his first LGCT Grand Prix win in 7 years. Level with Smolders at the halfway point it was just a blink of an eye in it until de Luca risked it all to the last fence leaving out strides, keeping it up and stopping the clock over a second faster than Smolders in 40.06 seconds to crush the dreams of a home win for all the local fans.
You could hear a pin drop as world number one and last to go, Henrik von Eckermann, entered the arena. Known for his speed, Lorenzo nervously watched on from the warm-up arena as von Eckermann and Glamour Girl were nearly a second up on the time in sector one. But the front rail of the wide oxer alongside VIP fell just before the Longines double handing the win to the Italian with Henrik pushing on even faster to still land himself on the podium as the fastest on four faults in 39.61 seconds.
As the sun set in Valkenswaard, the crowd’s cheers lingered, echoing the thrill of a remarkable victory. Lorenzo de Luca wrote his name into the history books claiming his second LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard win. Suitably Tour now heads straight to Italy, Rome in the Circus Maximums from 30 August – 1 September 2024.
FULL RESULTS here.
More from News:
