Arezzo set for the grand return of the Tuscany Tour

From March 13 to April 8 the best top riders from over 40 nations will be at the Equestrian Center to compete for a total prize money of almost € 800,000. The four-week program includes a CSI3* and the new CSI4* formula to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the first edition.
The great international horse riding event is about to return to Arezzo. The Merito Toscany Tour, the prestigious international show jumping competition that for four weeks, from March 13th to April 8th, will welcome to the Equestrian Center, riders from over 40 nations of the globe.
The creation of Ita Marzotto, who for eight years is expertly managed and organized by Riccardo Boricchi and Carlo Bernardini, this year celebrates the 15th anniversary of the first edition in 2003. It is an important milestone for a competition that has seen the top riders of the international equestrian scene take part and who today continue to choose Arezzo as a stage of preparation for the summer season thanks to its arenas, with unique characteristics.
This is why we have seen in action since the first week riders of the caliber of Yur Vrieling, runner-up in the Olympic team event in London 2012 and Martin Fuchs, a young Swiss rider winner of a team bronze at the European Championships in Aachen and author of excellent performances at Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. There will also be athletes like Olivier Philippaerts, an historical figure of Tuscany Tour with his father Ludo and his brother Nicola.
Italy will be well represented, with the Carabiniere Emanuele Gaudiano who stands out, with a strong presence at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and the WEG 2014, as well as several international competitions in the 5-star circuit; with him Piergiorgio Bucci, one of the absolute stars at Piazza di Siena 2017 winning the Nations Cup which Italy had not done for 32 years, and holder of the silver medal at the European Championships in Windsor in 2009. The three-time Italian champion Emilio Bicocchi and the great Gianni Govoni will also be in Arezzo, the only Azzurri to have participated in 2 Olympic Games, 3 World Championships, 10 European Championships, 3 Mediterranean Games and 1 World Cup Final.
The whole world will be present in Arezzo, with individual representation and teams of over 40 nations: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, Mexico, Macedonia, Malta, Holland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand , Ukraine, USA, Venezuela.
The Toscana Tour 2018 program includes the first 3 weeks of the CSI1* (Bronze Tour) and the CSI3* (divided into Silver Tour and Gold Tour) together with the CSIYH1 * reserved for horses aged 5, 6 and 7 (on Tuesdays / Wednesdays / Thursdays) and international competitions reserved for Juniors, Pony and Children; in the fourth week, for the first time, the CSI4* formula will be staged, which will bring together all the Bronze, Silver and Gold Tour competitions which will be joined by a CSI1* and reserved for CSI youth.
This year the riders will compete for a total prize money of € 716,500.00 with the possibility of obtaining valuable points thanks to 11 categories valid for the Longines Rankings FEI – for the CSI3* and 5 categories for the CSI4*, together with the Grand Prix that earns “C“ points which are valid for the FEI LRs.
It should be noted that the Grand Prix CSI3* on March 25 and April 1 and the CSI4* on April 8 are included in the FEI list of events in which riders and horses can obtain the FEI Certificates of Capability for the next WEG in Tryon ( USA) and the 2019 edition of the European Seniors Championships; moreover, FEI has been assigned to some categories in the Silver and Gold Tour qualifying status for the next European Junior / Young Riders Championships that will take place in Fontainbleau (FRA).
“This year too we will put in all our strength to carry out a high level competition,” revealed the patron of Arezzo Equestrian Center Riccardo Boricchi. ‘We have reached the milestone of the 15th anniversary of the Tuscany Tour and we must honor it properly. It is no coincidence that we decided to raise the bar in the last week with the CSI4* formula, which will give even more prestige to the event. The center is preparing to host something like 1200 horses per week, along with hundreds of Italian and foreign riders who, I am sure, will also have a positive impact on the economic fabric of the city: we all know that the Tuscany Tour has always been one of the cornerstones of sport tourism of our region.”
Throughout the duration of the Tuscany Tour there will be plenty of attractions, with a completely re-renovated VIP Area which will welcome fans, families and all those who want to spend a day of sport and relaxation in one of the most beautiful sports centers in Europe, without even having to pay the ticket price.
Per info: www.arezzoequestriancentre.comPress Release Toscany Tour 2018