Hat-Trick for "Super Mario" in Race 6 as the Battle for Chile Reaches its Climax
04/09/2026 - Vinon, France - The penultimate day of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix of France delivered a fast, highly tactical 242-kilometre sprint through the Southern Alps. With the airmass slightly more stable than previous days, pilots strategically avoided the Durance Valley, sticking closely to the foothills near St Auban and La Motte du Caire before a high-speed dash along the famous Parcours.
Through a sky that rewarded absolute precision over raw ambition, Germany’s Mario Kiessling demonstrated his mastery once again, claiming his third victory of the competition.
Race 6 Tactical Breakdown
Twenty pilots launched from Gréoux-les-Bains, with eighteen successfully completing the task. The route pushed the fleet through turnpoints at La Motte du Caire, Sainte Croix, and La Javie before the critical final run into Pontoise Farm.
Average thermal climb rates clustered around a modest 1.7 metres per second, meaning pilots had to extract maximum efficiency from every turn. The race was effectively decided across two critical sectors:
Leg 3 (Gréoux to Sainte Croix): The speed spread across the finishers blew wide open to a 95.9 km/h differential. Stanislaw Biela (S) pushed a stunning 184.7 km/h on this leg to briefly take the lead on the road, while Kiessling posted 182.9 km/h.
Leg 5 (The Final Glide): The run into Pontoise Farm sealed the podium. Kiessling dominated this stretch at 194.6 km/h. Biela, despite his earlier pace, collapsed to a 138.5 km/h speed on the final leg, suffering a 56 km/h deficit in the most decisive stretch of the task.
Kiessling crossed the finish line in 01:56:16, boasting an overall average speed of 124.8 km/h. Erik Borgmann (JG) flew a highly disciplined race to finish second, crossing just 36 seconds adrift (124.2 km/h) after utilizing 25 thermals. Stanislaw Biela (S) held on for his first podium of the competition, finishing third at 1:10 down (123.6 km/h).
The Road to Chile: Grand Finale Mathematics
As we head into Race 7, the Grand Finale, the pressure on the grid is palpable. Only the top two pilots in the overall standings will secure a ticket to the SGP World Final in Chile. With the final race awarding a bonus point to the winner (11 points maximum), the championship arithmetic is set:
1. Mario Kiessling is Officially Qualified
With his victory in Race 6, Kiessling sits at a commanding 45 overall points. Because the maximum points any rival can score today is 11, the lowest Kiessling can mathematically finish the event is second place. His ticket to Chile is secured.
2. Who Can Win the French SGP?
The battle for the overall event victory is down to two men. Didier Hauss currently holds second place with 36 points. To steal the French SGP crown, Hauss must win Race 7 (taking the 11 points to reach 47 total), and Kiessling must score 1 point or zero (finishing 9th or lower). If Hauss finishes second today, he reaches 44 points, falling short of Kiessling's current 45.
3. The Fight for the Second Ticket
While Kiessling is safe, Didier Hauss (36 points) is not. Three pilots remain in mathematical striking distance to steal the second qualification spot for Chile:
Jean-Denis Barrois (29 points): Can reach a maximum of 40 points.
Patrick Puskeiler (29 points): Can reach a maximum of 40 points.
Erik Borgmann (27 points): Can reach a maximum of 38 points.
For Hauss to mathematically lock out his challengers and guarantee his trip to Chile, he needs a minimum of 5 points (a 5th place finish) in Race 7, which would push his total to an untouchable 41 points.
Tune in for the Final Showdown
Fans were treated to an incredible Grid Walk tday, where we discussed pressure, qualification tactics, and the varying SGP experiences with Didier, Jean-Denis, Conrad, Stanislaw, and Philippe.
Tomorrow, the broadcast returns in full force. We will be back with our final Livestream of the event to cover every thermal, every tactical decision, and the ultimate crowning of our champion.
Do not miss the climax of the French SGP. Follow the grand finale LIVE at sgp.aero/live!
