Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander has the chance to close the gap at the top of the season standings at the Longines Global Champions Tour event in Paris ©Getty Images

The absence of Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and Britain’s Scott Brash will offer riders an opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Longines Global Champions Tour as the sixth leg of the season begins in Paris.

Fredricson tops the current individual standings on 149.00 points after impressing in the first five rounds of the 16-event season, which is due to culminate with the Prague Playoffs in November.

This included a strong display last week at his home event in Stockholm.

Brash is second overall on 108.00 points and has also opted to sit out the event in the French capital. 

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander could benefit from the opportunity to close the gap, as she begins the event third in the standings on 98.00 points. 



Britain’s Ben Maher and Dutch rider Bart Bles could also be beneficiaries, as they complete the current top five on 92.00 and 88.00 points. 

Germany’s Christian Ahlmann triumphed when the event was last held in Paris in 2019 and will hope for further success there.

Egypt’s Sameh El Dahan, France’s Julien Epaillard and Ireland’s Bertram Allen are among former winners of the Grand Prix event in Paris who will be competing.

Competition will take place at Champ de Mars, with the Eiffel Tower providing the stunning backdrop to the event.