FEI rankings, Olympic medals and stage winners: LGCT Madrid brings together the world's best riders

The great international equestrian sport returns to Madrid with the celebration of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and the Global Champions League (GCL), within the framework of the prestigious CSI Madrid, which will be held this weekend, from May 16 to 18 at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. After stops in Doha, Mexico City and Shanghai, Madrid hosts the first European leg of the circuit and the only Spanish venue on the calendar, consolidating its position as one of the world's leading competitions.

In this edition, the CSI5* Madrid will bring together a total of 60 riders, 118 horses and representatives from 18 countries, including several of the best pairings of the FEI ranking, as well as Olympic medalists and World Cup champions. The event will also include a CSI1* with 84 riders, 110 horses and participants from 17 countries. In total, the competition will feature 144 riders, 228 horses and representation from 27 countries.

Attracted by the centenary history of the competition, the technical quality of the green track in Madrid and an unprecedented prize money of 1,066,000 euros, distributed in the 15 official competitions, the leading names in international show jumping will once again compete in one of the most emblematic venues of the European circuit.

Friday - Global Champions League - Marqués de Riscal Trophy
The competition will kick off on Friday with the Global Champions League - Marqués de Riscal Trophy, in which the teams will seek to consolidate positions in the overall ranking of the circuit. The current leaders, Shanghai Swans, arrive in Madrid after winning the stages in Mexico and Shanghai, and they do so with their powerful trio: Christian Ahlmann, Katharina Rhomberg and Antoine Ermann. The Cannes Stars, Katrin Eckermann, Sophie Hinners and Sanne Thijssen, who won in Doha, will also be present.

The host team, Madrid In Motion, will field Spaniards Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Manuel Fernandez Saro, along with Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten, Olympic bronze medalist at Paris 2024 and runner-up at last year's LGCT Madrid. Their rapport and deep knowledge of the Madrid green track will undoubtedly be elements to take into account.

In addition, the individual classification of the second round of this team event will be decisive, since the 40 best riders in that table will obtain a direct pass to the Grand Prix LGCT Madrid on Sunday, the main event of the competition.

Saturday - H.M. the King's Cup - Caser Grupo Helvetia Trophy & Sunday - LGCT Madrid Grand Prix
The competitive weekend of the CSI5* Madrid will continue with two of its most emblematic competitions: on Saturday, the historic Copa de S.M. el Rey - Trofeo Caser Grupo Helvetia, with 1.50 m obstacles, an event that will once again feature riders who have already shone on this track, such as Gilles Thomas (winner in 2022), Simon Delestre (2023) or Denis Lynch (2018), currently in the Top 5 of the LGCT ranking. On Sunday, the Grand Prix Longines Global Champions Tour de Madrid, the highlight of the competition, with obstacles at 1.60 m and scoring for the overall ranking of the circuit, will take center stage. Christian Kukuk, winner in 2024 and Olympic champion in Paris, will possibly be one of the top-level participants that could also include Maikel van der Vleuten and Gilles Thomas, second and third respectively last year, in addition to the American Kent Farrington (current world number one and winner of the GP in 2017), the Swede Henrik von Eckermann, the Germans Marcus Ehning and Christian Ahlmann, the French Julien Epaillard and Simon Delestre, and the winners of the Doha and Mexico stages: Abdel Said and Emanuele Camilli. An exceptional cast for two days that promise maximum excitement and technical level on the green track of the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Leisure and entertainment
In addition to the high level of sport, the event also offers a leisure, gastronomic and shopping proposal that makes it a unique experience for all audiences. The commercial village, a carefully designed gastronomic area with food trucks and the traditional ¡HOLA! solidarity Pony Park, together with various family activities and sponsors' stands, complete an offer that every year attracts thousands of visitors to the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Tickets already on sale

Tickets can already be purchased through the website www.oxersport.com, with prices starting at 17 ¤ for adults and from 10 ¤ for children. Children under 7 years old will be admitted free of charge.