Edited press release from Longines Global Champions Tour

This weekend, the world’s top showjumping talents are set to descend on Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, for the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard. The stars of the sport will take to the stunning grass arena at the Longines Tops International Arena for the thirteenth stop on this year’s tour to battle it out for top honors at the birthplace of the LGCT and GCL.  

The hosts will be out in full force with the Dutch Olympic bronze medalist Maikel van der Vleuten, Jur Vrieling, reigning LGCT champion Harrie Smolders, Marc Houtzager, and last year’s LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard winner Sanne Thijssen. Belgium will be represented by Jérôme Guéry, Mexico LGCT Grand Prix winner Nicola Philippaerts, Gregory Wathelet, and Pieter Devos. 

Still fresh off their team triumphs in Paris, Great Britain's team gold medalist Scott Brash, USA's team silver medalist Laura Kraut, and two of the riders that secured team bronze on home turf, France's Simon Delestre and Kevin Staut, will all be competing in Valkenswaard. They will be joined by names such as the current LGCT ranking leader Max Kühner of Austria, the current world number one, Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann as well as Germany’s Marcus Ehning, Philipp Weishaupt and Richard Vogel.