Harrie Smolders triumphs at the LGCT Grand Prix of Rome 2025
A breathtaking setting, a grand audience and a thrilling finale. The Circus Maximus, with over five thousand spectators, welcomed the tenth edition of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Rome, confirming it as one of the most iconic events on the world show jumping circuit.
Taking the top step of the podium was Dutch rider Harrie Smolders riding the trusty Monaco, author of a flawless barrage closed in 34″27.
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For Smolders this is his second triumph in the Capital, after the one he won in 2016 at the Stadio dei Marmi.
Behind him is Belgian Gilles Thomas on Qalista DN (34″41), who thanks to his second place virtually secures the individual season title of the LGCT 2025, when there are still two stages left to the end of the circuit. Third was another top Dutchman, Maikel van der Vleuten with Beauville Z N.O.P., stopped at 34″84.
Under the eyes of CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, the Roman arena experienced hours of great spectacle and adrenaline. The 1.60m Rome LGCT Grand Prix course, created by course designer Uliano Vezzani, put forty pairs from sixteen nations to the test.
A technical and selective 500-meter course, with 13 obstacles to be cleared in a maximum time of 80 seconds, which left little room for error. Only ten managed to finish the first lap with a net, thus gaining access to the decisive barrage.
Among the big exclusions were Paris 2024 Olympic champion Christian Kukuk and Italians Giacomo Casadei, Guido Grimaldi, and Emanuele Camilli, who had performed well in the previous days.
Opening the final was Brazilian Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, but with 16 penalties he soon had to give way to rivals. Austria’s Katharina Rhomberg then set the first time to beat (36″67), surpassed shortly thereafter by France’s Gregory Cottard (36″41).
The first time to beat was in the final.
When Harrie Smolders entered the field, the atmosphere became electric: the Dutch rider delivered a perfect performance with clean lines and tight rhythm, closing in 34″27 and putting pressure on everyone else.
Only Gilles Thomas, leader of the overall ranking, tried to get close to him stopping less than two tenths of a second. Completing the podium, as in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, was Maikel van der Vleuten, always consistent at the top.
Of note was the unfortunate fall of Giulia Martinengo Marquet on Coynor, fortunately without consequences for either the amazon or the horse.
After the Roman leg, the ranking of the Longines Global Champions Tour 2025 sees Gilles Thomas in the lead with 275 points, followed by Harrie Smolders (214) and Christian Kukuk (208). With the Dutchman already announced absent in the next leg in Rabat, the young Belgian now has the arithmetic certainty of becoming circuit champion and getting his hands on the individual title with one round to spare.
