Edited press release from GCL 

The drama was palpable under the floodlights on the French Riviera as St Tropez Pirates rose to the top of the leaderboard in stage five of the 2025 GCL-season, denying the home team Cannes Stars a win by just over a second. Powered by precision, speed, and split-second decision-making, the team edged out the competition in a nail-biting showdown to claim victory at GCL Cannes, taking their second podium in two weeks.

Riding for St Tropez Pirates, after a clean sheet in round one from Max Wachman (IRL) on Fancy de Kergane (Berdenn de Kergane x Cor de Hus) and Mariano Martinez Bastida (ESP) with Jup (Carrera VDL x Silverstone), they opted to pull Duarte Seabra (POR) off the bench – and he delivered the goods with a flawless clear on Dourados 2 (Diarado x Cornet Obolensky). An unlucky two down from Martinez Bastida and Jup in the second round left the team as the fastest on eight faults to secure the win.

All three teams that went into round two on 0 faults finished on the podium, with Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames taking second with Sophie Hinners (GER) and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) at the helm on Iron Dames my Prins (Zilverstar x Winningmood) and Messi van 't Ruytershof (Plot Blue x For Pleasure). Madrid In Motion rounded off the podium in third, finishing on Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and Legend's (Ogano Sitte x Nabab de Reve) 12 faults but only clears from Kim Emmen (NED) on Imagine N.O.P. (Cassini Gold x Lord Z) and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) aboard Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines) in round 1.

Speaking to GCTV, Duarte Seabra of the St. Tropez Pirates couldn’t help but name a lucky charm to their podium two stages in the row, saying: “I think we know the formula… We just need one of the Wachmans in our team. Last time in Madrid we had Tom, and this week we had Max… so it doesn’t matter which one - i think that’s the key now to a podium!”

The results triggered a major shake-up in the overall GCL standings. Shanghai Swans remain in the lead but the Cannes Stars close the gap to just two points as they now sit on 108 points. Valkenswaard United jumped to third place on 94 points while the Cannes' winners St Tropez Pirates catapulted into fourth as they head into their home show next week on 86 points.