Some victories tell a story far greater than a simple result sheet. Simon Delestre 's win in Madrid felt almost like a changing of the guard. In one of the toughest Grands Prix of the season, the French rider delivered the only double clear of Sunday’s Grand Prix aboard Gatsby du Tillard to claim victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid. A triumph built on composure, precision, and that extra touch of calmness that so often separates winners from the rest.
Madrid, where survival is an art
The Club de Campo Villa de Madrid has never had a reputation for being forgiving. The 2026 edition proved it once again, brutally.
A tense 1.60m course stretched riders to their limits. A merciless time allowed. And only four combinations managed to secure a jump-off place. Even some of the sport’s biggest names were forced to back off rather than risk disaster: Philipp Weishaupt, Gilles Thomas and Hans-Dieter Dreher all chose caution over chaos.
Among the high-profile casualties were Katrin Eckermann, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Denis Lynch or Sergio Álvarez Moya, all punished by a Madrid track that forgave absolutely nothing. Then came the heartbreak of Jeanne Sadran, denied a jump-off by a final rail, the kind that hurts. Badly.
Delestre played chess while others played poker
The jump-off featured four riders. Four strategies. And only one truth.
Stephan de Freitas Barcha was first to go with Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio (Calvaro F.C. x Paroli). Fast. Aggressive. Maybe too aggressive. The final rail fell, leaving the Brazilian with a lightning-fast time but four penalties that immediately felt like a missed opportunity.
Then Simon Delestre entered the arena with a very different plan: don’t get carried away.
While others chased the clock, the Frenchman chose precision. A jump-off that was almost cold in its execution. Calculated. Intelligent. No wasted movements. No desperate turns. Just a smooth clear round in 52.30 seconds.
And in the end, it was the only clear that mattered.
« I knew that if I went clear, I would be at least second. So I really chose to focus on the clear round ,” Delestre explained after his triumph. The kind of lucidity that comes from understanding that sometimes rails are worth far more than tenths of a second.
Gatsby du Tillard, France’s new gem
This victory also tells another important story: Gatsby du Tillard (President x Diamant de Semilly), only 10 years old, is stepping into a completely new dimension.
The horse is only discovering top-level 5* Grand Prix competition this season, yet already looks as though he has belonged at this level for years. After producing a clear round in Shanghai two weeks ago, the pair confirmed their class in spectacular fashion on one of the circuit’s most demanding tracks.
And Delestre is no longer hiding his admiration for the grey Selle Français:
« He’s probably one of the best horses I’ve ridden in my career. »
When a rider who has partnered horses like Hermès Ryan, Chesall, and Cayman Jolly Jumper speaks like that, people listen.
Antoine Ermann keeps turning heads
Behind Delestre, another French rider continues his meteoric rise: Antoine Ermann.
Already on the podium in Shanghai, the young rider repeated the feat in Madrid with Floyd des Prés (Vigo Cece x Papillon Rouge Normandie). Once again, he went for the win. Once again, a rail denied him the jackpot. But two consecutive LGCT podiums with two different horses is starting to look like much more than just a “good weekend.”
More importantly, the Frenchman is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names of the 2026 season.
Delestre takes control
Beyond the prestige of Madrid, this victory carries enormous weight in the championship standings.
With 117 points, Simon Delestre now leads the overall LGCT rankings ahead of Katrin Eckermann on 104 points. Zascha Nygaard currently sits third with 76 points, while Piergiorgio Bucci and Edwina Tops-Alexander remain within striking distance.
Most importantly, the French rider has already secured his qualification for the Super Grand Prix in Prague. At this stage of the season, that is already a massive achievement.
Next stop: Cannes
The LGCT circus now heads to the French Riviera for the Cannes leg from June 4 to 6.
After Shanghai and Madrid, the 2026 season is starting to feel like a permanent showdown. And for now, Simon Delestre is the man setting the pace.
Find the full results of the LGCT Madrid 5* Grand Prix here.
(Photos ©LGCT/Lijuba Buzzola)