Elite Field Assembles for Longines Global Champions Tour of Shanghai 2026
Mdmar – Shanghai – LGCT
The Longines Global Champions Tour returns to Shanghai for stage 3 of the championship race with unmistakable intent – a convergence of the sport’s leading names, proven champions and rising contenders, all set to collide at one of the most dynamic stages on the calendar.
*“mdmar”
website for horse racing and equestrian News
As the 2026 season gathers momentum, Shanghai once again draws a field defined
not just by depth, but by narrative. At the centre of it all is defending LGCT
Grand Prix of Shanghai winner and world number one Scott Brash, who returns to
the arena where he delivered a decisive performance in 2025. He is joined by a
formidable group of returning contenders, including Gilles Thomas – victorious
here in 2024 – alongside Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, Andreas Schou and Nadja Peter
Steiner, completing a full top five from last year’s LGCT Grand Prix of
Shanghai back to contest the title once more.
That continuity sets the tone for a weekend where margins will be razor thin
and experience at this venue could prove decisive.
*“mdmar”
website for horse racing and equestrian News
Beyond the returning podium, the broader field reflects the full spectrum of
the sport at its highest level. Former world number one Henrik von Eckermann
leads the charge, joined by LGCT Champion in 2024 Max Kühner and three-time
series champion Ben Maher. Names synonymous with consistency and championship
pedigree such as Marcus Ehning, Philipp Weishaupt and Peder Fredricson add
further weight to a line-up that leaves little room for error.
Across the start list, proven winners and established forces continue to build
the competitive picture – Simon Delestre, Nicola Philippaerts, Marlon
Zanotelli, Christian Ahlmann, Hans-Dieter Dreher and Victor Bettendorf all
arrive with the credentials to challenge deep into the competition.
At the same time, the next generation continues to assert itself. Riders like
Thibeau Spits, Sophie Hinners, Jeanne Sadran and Sanne Thijssen represent a
growing wave of talent capable of disrupting even the most established order,
while combinations such as Ines Joly, Pim Mulder and Antoine Ermann continue to
build momentum on the global stage.
The strength in depth is undeniable, extending further through athletes
including Denis Lynch, Sergio Alvarez Moya, Emanuele Camilli, Oliver Lazarus
and Janne Friederike Meyer Zimmermann – each bringing their own trajectory,
experience and ambition into the mix.
*“mdmar”
website for horse racing and equestrian News
Set against the striking backdrop of the Shanghai Juss International Equestrian
Center, the event continues to reflect the city’s blend of innovation, scale
and spectacle. Purpose-built and positioned within Expo Park, the venue offers
a stage where sport and setting combine to elevate every round, every jump, and
every second against the clock.
Shanghai has established itself as a defining stop on the calendar – not just
for its atmosphere, but for the level of performance it demands. Technical
precision, tactical decision-making and absolute trust between horse and rider
will once again determine who rises above the rest.
With a returning champion, a complete top five back for redemption, and a field
stacked with global contenders, the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour of
Shanghai is set to deliver another chapter of elite sport at its most
compelling.
Stay tuned for full coverage, exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access on
GCTV.
*“mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
