Julien Epaillard (FRA) kick-started the Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid with a win aboard Instit de Jucaso (Cooper van de Heffinck x Darco), finishing almost two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) took second with Dana Blue (Mr. Blue x Hemmingway), and third went to Laura Kraut (USA) with Whitney (Indoctro x Concorde).

72 riders took to the first class of the weekend, with the 1.45m competition the perfect scene setter for a spell-binding weekend of top show jumping action. 

Former LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid winner Maikel van der Vleuten looked determined with his grey mare Dana Blue, powering around the second phase to stop the clock in 28.39s and shoot straight to the top of the leaderboard. Hot on his heels was Laura Kraut and Whitney, who, despite loosing a boot halfway round, put in a blistering display of speed to stop the clock just moments behind in 28.68s. 

Julien Epaillard and Instit de Jucaso looked set to take the first win of the weekend, powering through the starting gates, the French rider utilising his horse’s stride to eat up the galloping distance. Pushing to the last, the duo stopped the clock in an impressive 26.60s, almost two seconds ahead of long time leader Maikel van der Vleuten. 

Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) and Argelith Squid (Salito x Gibraltar) put in a valiant effort to stop the clock in 28.79s, but couldn’t better the Frenchman’s time. So it would be an early win for Epaillard, the Frenchman kick starting his weekend in the sultry Spanish city in style.