On the second day, at Piazza di Siena 2024, the Nations Cup takes place. Ten teams, 40 riders and riders among the best in the world get on the saddle of as many champion horses to face each other in a race that has entered the history of equestrianism: two heats, obstacles 1.60 meters high, for a technical and treacherous designed by master Uliano Vezzani.
??The Italian team selected by coach Marco Porro features three solid certainties and a young promise who is already a reality. The certainties: Lorenzo De Luca he climbed the world rankings to number two and is a veteran of Piazza di Siena. Ten consecutive participations, an individual victory in the Grand Prix in 2018 (over Halifax van het Kluizebos) and one in the Nations Cup team in 2017. He is one of the most representative riders of Italian show jumping and arrives in the field fresh from a first place , yesterday, in the Eni prize – timed category 1.50 – on Cash du Plessis?. Emanuele Camilli he is the rider responsible for Italy’s individual qualification for the Paris Olympics, a veteran of international competitions and will be on the field with Chacco’s Girlstar having had to give up Odense Odeveld. Giulia Martinengo Marquet, reigning Italian champion, one of the riders who makes the difference when she gets on the saddle. Third yesterday in the Eni prize on Scuderia 1918 Calle Deluxe, in the Cup she will ride Delta de l’Isle. Finally, the promising young woman: Giacomo Casadei, on Marbella du Chabli: a true rockstar in the equestrian world, at 21 years old he is one of the youngest athletes of the edition. However, his results and her riding speak of a rider who is already mature and ready for events of this level, even if the greenery of Piazza di Siena makes the veins in the wrists of even the most expert athletes tremble.
?Among the ten teams that will take to the splendid oval in Piazza di Siena is the Irish team, which a year ago won its first Nations Cup, taking it out of the hands of the Italian team in a last-gasp battle between Francesca Ciriesi on Cape Coral and Michael Pender on Hhs Calais. This year too they are among the teams to beat with Sweden, Belgium and Germany. Of note, the debut of the United Arab Emirates team and the return of Australia.
?The Intesa San Paolo Nations Cup will start at 2.30 pm. This is the entry order of the teams, defined by draw: 1 Ireland; 2 Mexico; 3 Austria; 4 USA; 5 Belgium; 6 UAE; 7 Germany; 8 Sweden; 9 Australia; 10 Italy. ?The Italians will compete in this order: Lorenzo De Luca, Giacomo Casadei, Emanuele Camilli, Giulia Martinengo Marquet. The race can be followed online in streaming on the website www.piazzadisiena.it and on TV. From 2.30pm, the first heat of the race can be followed live on RAI Sport with commentary by Gianluigi Zamponi and directed by Annarita Cardinali. The second heat will instead be deferred from 6.55pm to 7.40pm, in short on RAI 2.
