Rome dreamed of a hero to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Piazza di Siena. It found one in Piergiorgio Bucci.Riding Pallieter vd N.Ranch, the Italian delivered the only double clear of the Rolex Grand Prix and handed the Villa Borghese crowd a historic home victory. Fifty years old, World No. 28, and on a winning streak that refuses to end, Bucci continues to stack Grand Prix victories with remarkable consistency.
The eternal city was waiting for a national hero
One hundred years of Piazza di Siena. One hundred years of History, with a capital H. One hundred years of champions carving their names into the legend of Villa Borghese.
And this Sunday, it was an Italian who brought Rome to its feet.
Piergiorgio Bucci and Pallieter vd N.Ranch, the 11-year-old BWP stallion by Cornet Obolensky out of a Toulon mare, captured the Rolex Grand Prix by achieving what nobody else managed: two flawless rounds.
No jump-off. No calculations. No manufactured suspense.
Simply the best combination of the afternoon.
For the rider from Abruzzo, the victory carried special meaning. Winning in Rome is already an achievement. Doing it during the centenary edition feels almost like a national symbol.
Vezzani had something tougher than dolce vita in ind
The Grand Prix was anything but a leisurely Roman stroll.
Course designer Uliano Vezzani dressed the track for a celebration, but it quickly became clear that the festivities would be reserved for only the strongest of the forty-five starters. Technical, selective and demanding, the course asked plenty of questions.
The Belgian riders learned that the hard way. Nicola Philippaerts and Gadget Mouche, Gilles Thomas with Qiara de Kalvarie and Thibeau Spits with Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z all exited round one carrying eight faults. Emilie Conter's bill was even steeper as she left the Roman arena with twelve faults.
or the French contingent, the afternoon felt almost like a remake of the Battle of Pavia. Mégane Moissonnier and Crooner Tame finished on eight faults,, Marie Demonte and Forban de Béliard on sixteen, while Nicolas Sers and Eleven de Riverland endured a genuine ordeal, eventually accumulating twenty-seven faults.
The outcome? Just seven clear rounds in the opening phase.
Five additional combinations on four faults managed to snatch a ticket to round two.
Suddenly, the line-up looked like the final of a major championship.
Three Italians carrying local hopes: Martinengo Marquet, Piergiorgio Bucci. and Riccardo Pisani.
Three Germans hoping to repeat their Aachen heroics: Sophie Hinners, Richard Vogel and Jörne Sprehe.
Two americans with Laura Kraut and Marilyn Little.
Alongside them stood Spain's Armando TrapoteSaudi Arabia's Khaled AlmobtySweden's Wilma McMahon and Mexico's impeccably moustached Andrés Azcárraga..
On paper, anything was still possible.
In the arena, much less so.
A ruthless second round
The second round wasted no time setting the tone.
Andrés Azcárraga elected to retire.
Khaled Almobty and Eduardo Trapote saw their ambitions disappear under eight faults.
Then came the black streak. The long litany.
artinengo Marquet. Four faults. Kraut. Four faults. Marilyn Little. Four faults. Richard Vogel. Four faults. Jörne Sprehe. Four faults.
Even Sophie Hinners, whose partnership with Combella has looked almost untouchable in recent weeks, saw a place in the jump-off disappear after a mistake in the double combination.
One by one, the contenders ran out of ammunition.
Only one rider managed to solve the puzzle. Wilma McMahon. With Cicci BJN, the Swedish rider produced the only clear round of the second phase. But the four faults picked up in round one prevented her from extending the contest into a third act.
That left only one man standing.
The Only Double Clear
In the end, only "PG" Bucci—carrying the weight of an entire nation as Italy's last remaining representative—managed to secure a second clear round.
Focused. Precise. Fluid. Perfectly synchronized. Grazie mille. Arrivederci.
No jump-off is needed when nobody can do better.
The Roman crowd could finally let loose.
A winning machine
This victory did not come out of nowhere.
Since the start of the year, Bucci and Pallieter vd N.Ranch have been collecting Grand Prix victories like others fill a Panini sticker album.
In early March, the pair captured the Valencia CSI3* Grand Prix.
A month later, they claimed the CSI4* Grand Prix of Bedizzole.
Just five weeks ago, they raised the bar once again by winning the CSI5* Grand Prix of Mexico.
hree levels. Three countries. Four Grand Prix victories. .Rome now completes the series.
Always the same conclusion. Pallieter wins.
And the bigger the stars get, the less the horse seems to care.
“A Victory for the Entire Team”
The emotion was evident afterwards.
« It's an extraordinary victory for us, but also for everyone behind the scenes who contributes to these results. This is a victory for the whole team. ", said Bucci after his triumph.
A statement that perfectly reflects the Italian rider himself: understated, team-oriented and always mindful of those working far from the spotlight.
The Sky Is Blu Azzurro
At 50 years old, Piergiorgio Bucci currently sits 28th in the world rankings.
But numbers alone fail to tell the full story.
The Italian appears to be riding at one of the highest levels of his career.
More importantly, he possesses a string that would make any national selector dream: Pallieter vd N.Ranch (11), Hantano (14) and Istanbul du Cèdre (8).
For Italy, the centenary edition of Piazza di Siena found its hero. For the rest of the world, the message is simpler. Piergiorgio Bucci may never have been stronger. At 50, the rider from L'Aquila is not extending his career. He is writing its finest chapter. And on the other side of the Alps, the horizon has rarely looked so blu azzurro.
Find the full Rolex Grand Prix of Rome results here.
(Photos © Rolex Series)