Press release from Longines Global Champions Tour, edited by World of Showjumping

The streets of Monaco once again delivered edge-of-your-seat drama as Stephan de Freitas Barcha (BRA) and the exceptional Dinozo Imperio Egipcio (Diamant de Semilly x Urbain du Monnai) produced a performance worthy of the Principality's biggest stage, capturing the CSI5* 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco after a breathtaking jump-off under the lights.

With the iconic Port Hercule providing a spectacular backdrop, nine horse-and-rider combinations returned for a race against the clock where precision and bravery were separated by mere tenths of a second. As the pressure mounted with every ride, de Freitas Barcha held his nerve to stop the clock in a winning time of 35.40 seconds.

Piergiorgio Bucci (ITA) and Pallieter vd N.Ranch (Cornet Obolensky x Toulon) threw down the gauntlet from first draw in the jump-off, ultimately finishing runners-up after another superb double clear in 35.60 seconds, while Christian Ahlmann (GER) partnered Untouched LB (United Touch S x Cornet Obolensky) to a composed faultless round in 36.18 seconds to complete a world-class podium.

An emotional Stephan de Freitas Barcha struggled to put into words what his first Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix victory meant, admitting there could have been no more fitting place to achieve the milestone than Monaco. “The last fence felt a long way away, but it’s incredible. This is my first five-star Grand Prix win, and to do it here in Monaco, such a historic and special place, means so much. I’m really emotional because I’m doing this for a lot of people. To win my first five-star Grand Prix here is something very, very special.”

The victory also secured Barcha a coveted Golden Ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, and the Brazilian paid tribute to the horse that made it all possible while looking ahead to the season finale. “He’s unbelievable. He’s a fighter. He always wants to jump clear and do his best. He’s one of the really special ones, and I’m so lucky to have him. Now I’m qualified for Riyadh, which will be another very special Grand Prix for me. I’ll prepare as well as I can, and hopefully we can keep jumping like we did here in Monaco. The atmosphere, the crowd and the energy here are incredible - it gives you such a good feeling when you go into the ring and makes you want to do your very best.”

Fresh from his Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix victory in Mexico City earlier this season, Piergiorgio Bucci once again showed his jump-off prowess in Monaco, setting the early benchmark and ultimately securing a second podium finish of the 2026 LGCT season. Despite narrowly missing out on back-to-back victories, the Italian was proud of the round that kept the pressure firmly on the rest of the field. “I knew my time could be beaten because I wasn’t quite tight enough to the vertical after the combination, but the rest of the round was very fast. Stephan did an amazing jump-off and took a big risk to the last fence - that’s where he caught me. Going first is always tricky because you can’t react to what the others do, but I know my horse is naturally very quick. I just had to give him a nice, fast round.”