The best riders in the world at the only leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Germany
When spectators have free admission to the grounds of the Riesenbeck International Equestrian Center next Thursday, they will see world-class riders preparing for an incomparable event. Because the only Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and Global Champions League (GCL) tournament in Germany is coming up from July 18 to 21. It is the eleventh leg of the two worldwide series - and the home tournament of the GCL team Riesenbeck International, who will be trying to increase their points account on Saturday with the two nominated Olympic riders Christian Kukuk and Philipp Weishaupt. After all, the Riesenbeck International team are the 2023 defending champions.
Of course, the new crowd favorite from the CHIO Aachen, Richard Vogel, will also be at the start. Together with Christian Kukuk and Philipp Weishaupt, he will form the seeded Olympic team, reinforced by substitute rider Jana Wargers, who will also be competing in Riesenbeck. Sunday will also be a highlight for all the athletes, which they are working towards. The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Riesenbeck starts at 3 p.m. with prize money of 500,000 euros at stake.
The list of superstars is long: Laura Kraut (USA, Olympic team gold Beijing 2008), Ben Maher (GBR, Olympic Games Tokyo, individual gold), Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED, Olympic Games Sydney, individual gold and World Championships, Caen individual gold). They will be joined by the Philippaerts twins Nicola and Olivier from Belgium, Maikel van der Vleuten from the Netherlands and Kent Farrington from the USA. All the top German riders, from Christian Ahlmann to Marcus Ehning, Hansi Dreher, Marco Kutscher, Mario Stevens, Sophie Hinners, Philipp Rüping and Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann, will be making the trip to Münsterland. When the US American Jessica Springsteen is present, all eyes are on the VIP tent. Because sometimes the "boss" himself sits there. This time the chances are not so bad, because a week ago Bruce Springsteen gave a highly acclaimed concert in Hanover.
Guests can look forward to three days of top-class sport, including the German U25 Championships, exciting young horse classes and competitions in the two-star, three-star and five-star categories. A whole host of former world and Olympic champions will be on site. The current stars of the scene use the show as their last stop before traveling on to the Olympic Games in Paris. A foal auction and floodlit show jumping will add a special flair on Saturday. The spacious grass stadium, which is surrounded by a centuries-old forest and boasts a historic moated castle in the immediate vicinity, leaves a lasting impression of nature, tranquillity and well-being. Attributes that certainly come in handy when the action on the showgrounds gets the pulse racing and helps you hold your breath.
