Photos: Stefano Grasso /
LGCT
It’s set to another nail-biter of a
Longines Global Champions Tour weekend, with seven out of
the world’s top ten riders in action at the Madrid event
this week. For the fourth year in a row, the Tour will
return to the stunning Spanish setting with the event taking
place from the 19th - 22nd May in the Club de Campo Villa de
Madrid. This year will also welcome the Global Champions
League as the battle hots up for the Championship and teams
fight for position on the overall ranking leaderboard. The
revolutionary new team competition will take place on Sunday
at 18:00, with the promise of yet more intense action and
top, world class sport.
Last year’s Grand Prix winner, and overall 2015 LGCT
Champion of Champions Luciana Diniz (POR) will return to the
Tour for the first time this season and will undoubtably be
hoping to repeat her sensational win of last year - a
remarkable Grand Prix which saw an unusual no jump-off in
the challenging course. Also in action this weekend will be
current ranking leader and World Number 2, Christian Ahlmann
(GER) who is on stunning form, consistently being placed in
the top 10 at every Grand Prix this season so far. Hot on
his heels will be second place man, Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA),
and John Whitaker (GBR), Harrie Smolders (NED) and Ludger
Beerbaum (GER) will all look to capitalise on their recent
form to rocket up the LGCT rankings, with an impressive 9
out of the top 10 on the Tour's leaderboard set to compete.
World Number 3, Scott Brash (GBR) will also be back and
looking to capitalise on his recent LGCT success.
As well as legends of the sport, the event this week will
see plenty of action from the show jumping's young riders,
giving the stars of the future the opportunity to compete on
a global stage. Bertram Allen (IRL), Jos Verlooy (BEL),
David Will (GER), Andreas Kreuzer (GER), Paris Sellon (USA),
Jessica Springsteen (USA), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL), Audrey
Coulter (USA) and Gonzalo Suarez Anon (BRA) are just some of
the bright names competing this week.
Top ranked home riders Sergio Alvarez-Moya (ESP) and Pilar
Cordon Muro (ESP) will return to Madrid and be hoping for a
strong result in front of their passionate local crowd.
Marcus Ehning (GER) will be back for his second LGCT event
of the year, and will be joined by compatriots Daniel
Deusser (GER), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Marco
Kutscher (GER). The US will see a strong field of top class
riders at the Spanish event, with Laura Kraut (USA), Lauren
Hough (USA), Kent Farrington (USA) and Georgina Bloomberg
(USA) taking part in the four day festival of show jumping.
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) will be another top name to look
out for this week, as will his GCL team mate Gregory
Wathelet (BEL). Kevin Staut (FRA) and Penelope Leprevost
(FRA) return for the LGCT of Madrid, and with other names
such as Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), Ben Maher (GBR), Eric
Lamaze (CAN), Michael Whitaker (GBR), Pius Schwizer (SUI),
Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT), Jérôme Guery (BEL) and
former LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid winner Maikel van der
Vleuten (NED), it’s set to be another incredible weekend of
top sport and entertainment.
There will be a total of 16 classes held over four days of
competition, with the world's best riders in action for the
Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid
presented by CaixaBank on Saturday 21st May, at 17:00 local
time. With a total of €320,000 up for grabs, it's set to be
another nail-biting round of action as the riders battle it
out for the sixth round of competition on the 15-event Tour.
Fans will be able to witness the stars of show jumping in
action in the stunning grass arena, and with a shopping
village, entertainment and refreshments, there will be
something for everyone to enjoy over the four day festival
of show jumping.
The ever-popular CSI5* 1.55m Copa Del Rey - Trofeo El Corte
Ingles, worth €75,000 in prize money, will be held at 14:30
on Sunday, and the spectacular Global Champions League of
Madrid, which offers an impressive €200,000 in prize money,
will kick off at 18:00 local time.
For a full rider list, please click
here. For more information and a detailed show schedule,
please click
here. Tickets are available to purchase
here.