France's Patrice Delaveau took a stunning win in the final speed class of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rome ahead of an Italian 2 - 3, home favourites Lorenzo de Luca and Emanuele Gaudiano.

The people of Rome once again flocked to the Stadio dei Marmi to watch the final class of the sensational Longines Global Champions Tour of Rome and were rewarded with two of their top riders taking the final podium places in a nail biting speed competition which had everyone on the edge of their seats.

51 riders started Uliano Vezzani’s up to height 1.50m jump-off class, which saw the faults well distributed across each of the 13 first round fences. With the final line causing a few problems due to a challenging distance down to the last and a double of verticals across the middle also catching a few of these top-class riders out, and a total of 14 went through to the jump-off.

First to step up to the challenge was Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum with the 10-year-old grey gelding Fibonacci (For Feeling x Corland), who threw down the gauntlet with a clear round in an excellent time of 37.23. Local rider Emanuele Gaudiano thrilled the home crowd to take over the lead midway through the jump-off, but this was short lived when next to go, Patrice Delaveau, made the most of the long gallop to the last, setting a time of 35.46 with the gorgeous Lacrimoso 3 HDC (Landjunge x Cascavelle).

Those who followed valiantly tried to catch Patrice, including Friday’s winner Simon Delestre with the speedy Chesall (Casall x Concerto II), who finished eventual 5th, but Lacrimoso 3 HDC’s time proved unbeatable. Lorenzo de Luca looked as though he could challenge Patrice’s lead, however was pipped to the post by just three tenths of a second, finishing in 2nd place. 

Source: Press release from LGCT