Pirates on the Attack: Saint-Tropez Snatches Mexico at the Finish

It took composure, a touch of audacity, and above all, absolute steadiness. In Mexico, at the vibrant Campo Marte, the St Tropez Pirates chose the perfect moment to strike. A four-fault victory, secured against the clock ahead of Istanbul and Basel, finally sets their 2026 season in motion. Clean. Precise.

A Victory Measured to the Millisecond

In the new GCL, gaps are no longer built—they are carved out. In Mexico, they were decided by barely more than a second.

Three teams finished on four faults. Three teams capable of winning. But only one stopped the clock at 147.23 seconds. Saint-Tropez made the difference right there, in that grey zone where risk becomes strategy and speed allows no margin for error.

Istanbul followed closely, Basel just behind. All three level on faults, separated by the finest of margins. A long-distance race turned into a sprint.

A Masterstroke by Campbell and Bucci

The Pirates’ success was nothing like an improvised heist. It was a clean, well-executed operation.

Kaitlin Campbell set the tone with a controlled clear round aboard Karius (Van Gogh x Drossan)—fluid, no frills. The kind of performance that instantly puts pressure on the rest of the field. In her first season on the circuit, she delivers a major statement: a double clear, sharp lines, and flawless pace management. Alongside her, Piergiorgio Bucci kept things in check with a four-fault round on Palletier vd N. Ranch.

The pair wasted no time, and that proved decisive in this revamped GCL format. Just enough speed to lock in their position without overexposing themselves. The result: a flawless second round that erased any doubts from the first and propelled the team into the lead.

Istanbul and Basel, so close, yet beaten

Istanbul will have reasons to rue the result. Abdel Saïd with Bonne Amie , delivered the goods with a clean round that kept his team firmly in contention. But Simon Delestre ’s rail in the second round aboard Golden Boy DKproved costly. In this format, a single mistake cannot be recovered, it seals your fate.

Basel experienced a similar storyline. Solid, composed, never out of their depth. But a single slip was enough to turn a potential victory into a third-place finish. Consistency pays—but not always at the very top.

Behind them, a tight pack

The rest of the standings confirms a clear trend this season: no one is truly dominating. Margins remain razor-thin, and mistakes are punished instantly.

New York came within touching distance of the podium but couldn’t quite tip the balance. Riesenbeck, meanwhile, delivered fast and spectacular rounds—most notably a lightning double clear from Christian Kukuk double clair en mode express, mais traîne le poids de la première manche. Plus loin, certaines équipes limitent la casse quand d’autres explosent sous pression, entre fautes accumulées et abandons.

And then there are those who never even saw the second round. Several major teams were stopped in the opening phase, proof that the selection process has become unforgiving.

Mexico, the ultimate arbiter

The setting played its part. Campo Marte dictates its own rhythm, atmosphere, and tension. The crowd drives, absorbs, and amplifies every line. In this environment, the pressure builds, on both horses and riders.

Everything becomes more intense. Lines close faster, decisions are made earlier. Those who hesitate are simply out of the game.

A win that changes everything

For Saint-Tropez, this victory is far from incidental. It kickstarts a season that had been slow to ignite and puts the team firmly back in the title race.

The circuit now heads to Shanghai, and one thing is becoming clear: this 2026 GCL will offer no respite. Each stage reshuffles the deck.

The Pirates have seized the momentum. The question now is how long they can stay the course.