They did it !
What a great ending to this weekend - with more than 43'000 visitors attending this 59th edition of the CHI Geneva - with the win of Martin Fuchs and Clooney in the Rolex Grand Prix
The course designers Gérard Lachat and Louis Konickx exceeded all expectations with their course for the Rolex Grand Prix. Wide oxers, technical lines and tricky combinations... Irishmen Michael Pender and Mark McAuley were the first ones to solve this equation. They showed the way for Jérôme Guéry,Pieter Devos and Jos Verloy (BEL) as well as Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, Scott Brash and Darragh Kenny. On the Swiss side, young Bryan Balsiger (21) made the crowd go wild, delivering one of eleven perfect rounds riding Clouzot de Lassus. N°1 and 2 were not to be forgotten. Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat were clear: first one wanted to win his first Major in Geneva and second one was hoping to win his fourth Rolex Grand Prix here.
Eleven riders in the jump-off and three Swiss for the win. The Irishmen were tricked in a jump-off that required big strides and sharp turns. No crazy option there : you "only" had to go very,very fast. Jérôme Guéry riding the excptionnal Quel Homme de Hus was the first one to steal the show and delivered a superb clear in 39.07. But Martin Fuchs wasn't to be forgotten, the reigning European champion took every risks with his fabulous Clooney. "I had to be very focused in the first rounds, he was a little behind the leg, said 27 year old rider, but in the jump-off, I knew I could ask him everything." Taking strides out everywhere, the champion couple was more than half-a-second faster! What a challenge for the following riders....
Despite their efforts, even Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Bianca couldn't catch up. Only winner of the Rolex Grand Slam to this day (2014-15), Scott Brash brought silence to the arena. Ahead of time in all intermediate measures, the crowd hold its breath... The Scottish was only 0.05s behind Martin ! "I probably lost a little bit of time before the last fence, the stride didn't come the way I wanted."
Tribunes, full to the max, witnessed the first victory of their colt Martin Fuchs in a Rolex Grand Slam Major. Furthermor in Geneva, his second home. "Steve now has to share his garden a bit since there is no more show in Zürich, he laughed. Climbing on the highest step of the podium tonight has a particular flavor. The road was long to get here and I am really proud of what I accomplished today. Thank you Geneva and thank you Clooney!"
