MEET THE HOME TEAM: CANNES STARS POWERED BY IRON DAMES
Get to know the all-female home team as the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames return to the French Riviera to defend their GCL crown.
The Cannes Stars are back where it all began-ready to light up the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cannes with talent, tenacity, and the trailblazing spirit that made them 2024 GCL Champions.
Riding under the floodlights on Thursday 5 July, the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames will take on 16 rival teams in the GCL Round 1 showdown. As the only all-female team in the championship and the reigning title holders, the pressure is on-but this is a team that thrives under it.
Under their defining mantra “Driven by Dreams,” the Stars rewrote the rulebook last season, winning the Championship in their debut year and inspiring fans across the globe. This week, they return to their home leg on the French Riviera with three of their most fearless athletes in the saddle.
MEET THE CANNES STARS LINE-UP FOR CANNES
SOPHIE HINNERS
A driving force in the team’s championship-winning campaign, Sophie returns to Cannes as a fan favourite and reigning GCL Rider of the Year. Her cool composure and razor-sharp focus have delivered countless clear rounds and podium finishes. With Cannes as one of her 2024 winning stops, she’s back to defend-and deliver-once again.
JANNE FRIEDERIKE MEYER-ZIMMERMANN
Passion meets precision with Janne. A pillar of experience and performance, she helped the team secure critical results last season, including a win in Doha and a podium in London. Her synergy with the squad-and her horses-makes her a key player in the Stars' title defence.
SANNE THIJSSEN
Explosive, bold, and brilliant under pressure-Sanne brings fierce energy to the Cannes Stars. Her jump-off pace and fearless riding style helped the team to victory in Doha last season. In 2025, she returns to Cannes as a rising star with everything to play for.
Together, this trio of talent will carry the hopes of their team-and home fans-into Thursday night’s arena battle.
While Sophie, Janne, and Sanne fly the flag on home soil this weekend, the strength of the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames runs even deeper. Teammates Natalie Dean, Katrin Eckermann, and Anastasia Nielsen - the squad’s U25 talent - are not competing in Cannes, but remain integral to the team’s continued pursuit of excellence. Each has contributed to the Stars' winning momentum, and their presence will be felt even from afar.
Limited tickets remain – book now to cheer them on live in Cannes.
My vision is clear. Only the best for the best.