Morgan, Levin, Martin, Dev and Samir won the bench de la galette
Spectrum (Morgan, Levin, Martin, Dev, Samir) won in the french city Tours
The French tournament took place for the 10th time, attracting players from various countries. A total of 18 teams participated, each consisting of five players. The matches had a duration of 30 minutes.
On Friday, the weekend kicked off with a gathering at a bar, setting the stage for an exciting tournament. Saturday featured a major Swiss round in which each team played five matches. The competition took place on three courts, and although the weather was quite cold, the hall was filled with energy from early morning on. By the end of Saturday, Spectrum secured the top spot in the standings, followed closely by ARTE (Mya, August, Vincent, Jason, Alphonse), one of the tournament favorites. Sunday introduced a knockout format where the first round determined whether teams would compete in the top or bottom bracket, depending on their first game performance. This was followed by a single-elimination phase.
In the semi-finals, Spectrum faced off against “Le Frerettes” (Bouchard, Eliska, Max, Romain, Julien). The French team, with support from Prague, had won the tournament the previous year and entered as the defending champions. After a narrow defeat on Saturday, the squad, led by world champion Bouchard, was determined to reclaim the title and relentlessly pushed against Spectrum’s defense. They managed to score four times, but Spectrum found the net five times, securing a hard-fought victory after an intense 30-minute game.
The second semi-final was “MAÏS TROPICAL”(Mass, Bulle, Baptiste, Quentin, Toma) vs. ARTE. Having lost the final in Barcelona, August’s team was eager to claim the title this time. The match was hard, with Mass delivering a standout performance and the Didier duo showcasing their exceptional teamwork. Bulle scored a crucial goal, but in the end, ARTE edged out a 7:6 victory, advancing to the final. In the third-place match, the team led by the Rasta Rocket brothers, Julien and Romain, dominated their opponents with a decisive 6:2 win, securing a spot on the podium.
The final between ARTE and Spectrum was a highly anticipated rematch, as their Saturday encounter had ended in a 6:6 draw. With 30 minutes of play, anything could happen, and even after 20 minutes, the outcome remained uncertain. Martin and Morgan’s team started strong, scoring early and staying within reach throughout the game, allowing them to control the pace. After a determined comeback, the score was locked at 4:4 at the end of time, forcing the match into a golden goal decider. Following a brief pause, Martin—who had been in top form all weekend—capitalized on a counter-attack and secured the winning goal, sealing the championship for his team. For Morgan, this marked his third tournament victory, ten years after his first triumph in Tours.
Mass was awarded MVP—not only for his outstanding performance on the field but also for treating everyone to delicious homemade pizza on Sunday.
Ella was named Best Rookie, while Bernie and Romain shared the honor of Best Referee.
Toma from Tours had this to say about the weekend:
“The TBP team is thrilled with the amazing anniversary event, made possible by the many players and supporters who came from near and far. Huge thanks to the dedicated organizers and the entire Bike Polo community for their incredible support – from logistics and sponsorships to food, drinks, and bike repairs. Special shoutout to the artists and designers who added a creative touch. The fair play and respect on and off the field made this weekend truly special. An unforgettable event full of passion, intense matches, and a strong sense of community!”
Sunday was streamed from Down Over on Youtube. Go watch!
Winners history:
2025: Morgan, Levin, Martin, Dev, Samir
2024: Julien, Max, Romain, Eliska, Bouchard
2023:Ben, Julien, Romain, Stouph
2022: Morgan, Parcim, Alphonse, Vincent, Alban
2020: Dani, Rem’s, Rata, Val, Bouchard
2019: Dani, Rem’s, Rata, Val, Bouchard
2018: Val, Martin, Paul, Germain, Dadou
2017: Gatien, Marco, Rata, Mac Fly, Bouchard
2016: Thomas, Antoine, Greg, Thibault, Pidoux
2015: Morgan, Alex, Ben, Nico, Romain
Note: Sorry for no Article for Valencia and Barcelona. I will try my best this season to keep going!