A star-studded line-up – including seven out of the Top 10 riders in the world – will take centre stage at the Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands this week for another leg of the 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour. 

With just three events left to go in the 2017 Tourt, the battle for the title has become nail-bitingly tense. Current leader, and Dutch national hero Harrie Smolders (NED) looks to be on phenomenal form as he fights to keep his title dream alive, consistently bagging valuable points at every leg to now sit on a score of 263 points overall. 

One man who will be hoping to gain an advantage on ‘home turf’ will be Alberto Zorzi (ITA), the young Italian based at Tops International Arena, who sits just behind Smolders in the Tour standings. A mere 18 points away on 245, Zorzi has the potential to overturn the leaderboard, ensuring the fight to the final will be one to watch. Just behind the top two is German star Christian Ahlmann (GER).

The top three will have everything to do, as a whole host of stars will be out in force for the 13th leg of the Tour calendar. World number 1 Kent Farrington (USA) will be joined by the majority of the Top 10 riders in the world, including Lorenzo de Luca (ITA), Daniel Deusser (GER), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) and two-time LGCT Champion Scott Brash (GBR).

Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, is the spiritual home of the Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League, and has always been a favourite with riders, owners and partners alike. For the 12th season of the world's premier showjumping season, the spectacular, state-of-the-art Tops International Arena will host the 13th round of the Tour from 11th - 13th August. The superb facilities created by LGCT Founder and President Jan Tops have raised the bar in equestrian sport new heights, cementing the venue as the epicentre of equestrianism in Europe.

Source: Press release from the LGCT // Picture © LGCT/Stefano Grasso