"We are surfing a big wave right now. It's almost not real," said Christian Kukuk in the winner's interview, and behind him the sun was setting on the Eiffel Tower. In fact, the riders of Team Riesenbeck International are accomplishing something that has never been done before in the Global Champions League worldwide series. Four victories in eight legs, plus two more podium finishes! Under the saddle, the riders have both highly experienced internationally successful Grand Prix horses such as Mumbai or Coby, but also promising young horses such as the only nine-year-old Zineday or Just be gentle. Philipp Weishaupt explained one reason for the series of successes: "We have outstanding horses, they are all at the perfect age."

Team Riesenbeck has now extended its lead in the interim standings over the others with a victory at the event in Paris: 183 points are on the books. In second place are Madrid in Motion (159), with Paris Panthers (149) currently third.

The special thing about this is how the victories are achieved. Team manager Ludger Beerbaum is almost speechless: "Mega. The boys are so incredibly good!" It's all down to the cool, unagitated detachment with which Christian Kukuk and Philipp Weishaupt performed. Weishaupt rode his gelding Zineday, only nine years old and who he claims is an "outstanding" horse, calmly and safely to a clear round. Christian Kukuk then did with Mumbai what everyone expects from the extremely consistent pair anyway, he also stayed clear. The added time was not too fast, so Riesenbeck International had to be the first of the three clear teams in the final round two. Zineday repeated the super performance. He managed the only double clear in the whole field. Mumbai was not completely concentrated at a plank, the pole fell. After that, his rider picked up the pace and thus ensured a good starting position to improve on the safe podium position.

Obviously the Riesenbeck riders, who were used to success, put both following teams under heavy pressure: Mexico Amigos were eliminated by a fall of Mike Kawai, Simon Delestre had to accept a refusal of his horse and thus missed the chance of victory of his team St. Tropez Pirates.

Loving Paris - Team Riesenbeck with another win  picture: LGCT

Next week is the next stage in Monaco, the fifth consecutive mission for Christian Kukuk, who already feels the performance that this also requires of him . "I'm rather calm before the tournaments, concentrated, lay out a plan and play through everything in my head," he reveals about his preparation before the tournaments. Everyone is now waiting for the team, which has recently been weakened by injuries, to be back at full strength soon and for relief to come.