Back to the roots, back to the show. Ten years after its debut in Miami Beach, the Global Champions League has relaunched its 2026 season where it all began. A new format, maximum tension from the very first round, and one team that has already made its mark: Madrid in Motion. Clean. Clinical. Relentless. The tone is set.
Miami, a decade later and a grand return
The setting is almost too perfect. The Atlantic as a backdrop, white sand, and an electric atmosphere to celebrate a double anniversary: 10 years of the GCL and 20 years of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
After a year away, Miami Beach returns to the circuit—and not just as a side act. Here, in 2016, the team league redefined modern show jumping. Ten years later, it comes back with a promise: to go even faster. Promise kept.
New format, immediate pressure
2026 marks a turning point. No more feeling-out rounds.
- Round 1 at 1,60 m
- Only the top 10 qualify
- Round 2 at 1.55 m in knockout mode
The result: a tense, compact competition with no safety net. From the very first fence, you're under pressure.
The big teams had to fire their best shots right away, and some paid the price: Shanghai Swans, Riesenbeck International, and Doha Falcons were eliminated before even reaching the final round. Welcome to the accelerated version of the GCL.
Madrid in Motion, in boss mode
In this controlled chaos, one team got everything right. Very right.
Zero faults, two riders in total control, and a perfectly executed strategy.
Maikel van der Vleuten (Beauville Z N.O.P.) (the only rider to deliver a double clear) and Victor Bettendorf (Atchoum de la Roque Z) sealed the deal in round two. Jack Whitaker with Izara des Dames had already produced a clear round in the first leg. No debate. No hesitation. A flawless 100%.
A perfect scorecard on the sands of Miami.
The Dutch rider summed it up bluntly:
« We can be very proud. It’s the best way to start the season. »
Same tone from Bettendorf, mixing clarity and relief:
« We knew we needed two clear rounds. We did the job. »
Simple. Efficient. Winning.
Valkenswaard United still in the game
Behind them, defending champions Valkenswaard United are far from gone.
Edwina Tops-Alexander and Gilles Thomas delivered two double clears under pressure, securing a strong second place. No fireworks—just solid, serious performance.
They’ll be there all season. As usual.
Cairo Pharos, a striking debut
Third place and an immediate statement.
New team Cairo Pharos arrives with confidence. Annelies Vorsselmans with the highly effective VDL Kelton and Pim Mulder (Viktor Z) produced two clear rounds when it mattered most.
Mulder, almost surprised himself:
« I asked if I really had to go again… but the team gave me confidence. »
Result: an instant podium. Beginner’s luck or real contender? Time will tell.
Derrière, ça secoue
The new format hasn’t just reshuffled the deck, it has compressed the field. Behind the top three, every team walked a tightrope between time management and constant risk-taking. Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames delivered one of the sharpest performances of the weekend: two ultra-fast, perfectly controlled rounds, but with penalties already on the board, they narrowly missed the podium. A similar story for the Scandinavian Vikings: solid, but never fully unleashed, stuck in that in-between zone where even the smallest hesitation proves costly.
A season launched at full speed
This opening act is no appetizer. It’s a warning.
Madrid in Motion takes the lead. Valkenswaard stays close behind. And outsiders like Cairo Pharos are already shaking up the hierarchy.
The 2026 GCL season is underway and it has no intention of slowing down.
Next stop: Mexico City, April 17. A complete change of scenery, moving from sand to the grass of Campo Marte. A new test, a new battle.
Miami didn’t just relaunch the season, it redefined the tempo.
And in this relentless sprint, Madrid already has a head start.
Find le classement complet de la Global Champions League de Miami ici
(Photos ©GCL)