In an electric arena in Shanghai, Stage Three of the 2026 GCL came down to details. The Monaco Aces handle better than anyone else. Without forcing Peder Fredricson and Yuri Mansur built a clean, controlled victory while the rest of the field unraveled on a demanding track. A performance that throws the title race wide open.
The key moment: Fredricson shuts the door
When Peder Fredricson enters the arena, everything is still open. But not for long.
Before him, Yuri Mansur has done the job. Not spectacular, but smart: one time fault with Mister Jup (Carrera VDL x Silverstone), no rails. A solid foundation.
Fredricson only has to finish it off. And he does — without flinching — aboard SV Vroom de la Pomme Z (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Untouchable). Clear, smooth, quick. The kind of round that settles everything.
“We were very happy after the first round. The horses (Vitiki for Mansur and Capone for Fredricson) jumped incredibly well, but that was only halfway. I’m especially pleased that we stayed focused in the second round.”
In Shanghai, some attacked. He controlled.
Monaco Aces, a win built step by step
No fireworks. No unnecessary risks. Just two riders reading the class perfectly.
“I’m really grateful for the team we have. Everything is working very well, and it motivates us even more,” says Yuri Mansur.
And then there’s that intangible factor:
“The crowd here is incredible, they lift us every step of the way.”
Résultat : 1 point au total. No need to overplay when everything is under control.
Riesenbeck and Basel: solid, but one step behind
Riesenbeck went for the perfect play. Emanuele Camilli delivered a clear with Chacco’s Girlstar (Chacco Blue x Sandro Boy). Philipp Weishaupt followed with another aboard Mastermind RL (Mylord Carthago x Alcatraz) — the only double clear of the second round.
But Monaco didn’t blink.
“Our horses were very strong today, but with Peder and Yuri coming after us, we knew it would be difficult,” admits Weishaupt.
Basel, meanwhile, continues its steady start to the season. Double clear for Schou with Darco de Lux (Darco x Contender) and Zanotelli with Claire 186 (Casalito x Balou du Rouet). Not the fastest, but consistent.
In the end, it was the first round that proved costly. Not Nicola Philippaerts ’ clear with Katanga v/h Dingeshof, but Zanotelli’s 8 faults with Charly Heart (Cornet Obolensky x Heart-Ache BS).
Shanghai, a track full of traps
The rest of the night? Survival.
Denis Lynch opens with eight faults.. Scott Brash follows. The double combination becomes unavoidable… and often fatal.
Olivier Lazarus loses everything there. Sophie Hinners too. Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann doesn’t escape it either.
Even the big names wobble. Marcus Ehning tries an inside turn, it doesn’t come off. Max Kühner sees his round fall apart. Max Kühner sees his round fall apart.
In the middle of it all, a few stand out.
Ioli Mytilineouflawless with both L’Artiste de Toxandra (Toulon x Kashir) and Levis de Muze (Elvis ter Putte x Tnka’s Boy).
“At the end of the course, I told myself: don’t do too much. Just ride clean.”
In Shanghai, it’s not the fastest who wins. It’s the one who stays standing.
Valkenswaard limits the damage
Not their best night. But far from their worst.
“The horses jumped very well. We were just a little unlucky… and that happens,” says Hans-Dieter Dreher (4 faults in round one with Elysium).
8 faults for Ehning in round two, 4 for Thomas.
And in the standings? The 2025 champions move into the lead.
A GCL already on edge
Valkenswaard United – 53,5 pts
Cairo Pharaohs – 53 pts
Monaco Aces – 52 pts
St Tropez Pirates – 52 pts
Basel Cosmopolitans – 52 pts
1.5 points between five teams.
Shanghai rewarded control. Monaco Aces got it right from start to finish.
But behind them, everyone is still there. And with margins this tight, Madrid, the next stop, is already shaping up to be intense.
