Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym produced a commanding performance beneath the Eiffel Tower to win Stage 7 of the 2026 Championship at GCL Paris presented by L’Équipe, delivering the only faultless team score of the evening.
GCL Paris 2026 Results
With the iconic Champ de Mars providing a spectacular setting, the Paris crowd witnessed a tense night of team show jumping where precision and composure proved decisive. While several leading combinations faced setbacks, Riesenbeck International stayed calm throughout, completing all four rounds without a single fault.
Riesenbeck International secured the GCL Paris victory with a perfect score of zero faults, finishing on a combined time of 144.52 seconds after Marco Kutscher and Maximilian Weishaupt produced four clear rounds from four attempts.
The result marked a major turning point in the 2026 Championship standings, moving Riesenbeck International to the top of the table after seven stages with a 12-point advantage heading into Monaco.
GCL Paris 2026 results showed how closely matched the leading teams remain, with every round carrying championship importance.
Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames finished runners-up after recovering strongly from a difficult opening round. Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli and Jörne Sprehe responded under pressure with two clean performances in the second round, securing second place on a total of four faults.
Riyadh Knights completed the podium after a determined display. Carrying only a single time fault from the opening round, Olivier Perreau and Cian O’Connor added four faults in the second round to secure third place and valuable championship points.
For Maximilian Weishaupt, the Paris stage provided a memorable opportunity after stepping into the team following his reserve role in Ramatuelle. Riding Zuccero HV, he delivered two flawless rounds and praised both his horse and the atmosphere surrounding the event.
“The horses and riders did a very good job today. We cannot be more satisfied with our rounds and our horses,” Weishaupt said, while highlighting the energy created by the Paris crowd.
The victory also continued a remarkable run for Riesenbeck International, who followed their previous stage success with another win. Marco Kutscher said the recent results had restored confidence after a challenging start to the season.
“We didn’t have such a good start, but now we’ve won the last two stages, so we’ve stepped up in the rankings,” Kutscher said.
Cannes Stars continued their strong championship campaign, with Jörne Sprehe admitting the narrow margin between winning and finishing second reflected the intensity of top-level team competition.
“One fence being the difference is maybe a bit hard to swallow sometimes, but it was still a really good result for us,” Sprehe said.
Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli also praised the team’s unity and belief, describing the podium finish as an important moment as the season moves forward.
Riyadh Knights’ Cian O’Connor was equally satisfied after helping his team secure a place among the top three. He praised the performance of his horses and teammates, saying the podium finish was a positive step for the championship campaign.
The Paris result reshaped the championship picture, with Riesenbeck International now leading on 131 points. Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team remain second on 119 points, while Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames moved into third with 117 points.
Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team sit fourth on 112 points, closely followed by Monaco Aces on 111 points, leaving the fight for the leading positions finely balanced.
The opening round in Paris produced immediate drama. Only Valkenswaard United and Riesenbeck International managed clear scores at the halfway stage, while Riyadh Knights stayed within touching distance with just one time fault.
Several championship contenders struggled early. Prague Lions, who arrived as overall leaders, saw their evening unravel after costly rounds from Derin Demirsoy and Niels Bruynseels left them outside contention. New York Empire powered by Lugano also missed the second round after a difficult opening performance.
The decisive second round raised the pressure even further.
Cannes Stars responded first with two clean rounds, putting themselves firmly into podium contention. Riyadh Knights followed with a strong effort, setting a competitive target for the teams still waiting.
Then came Riesenbeck International.
Weishaupt again delivered a faultless round before Kutscher entered the arena knowing another clear would guarantee victory. The experienced rider produced a composed performance aboard Pikeur Lemar NRW, sealing the only perfect team score of the night.
Monaco Aces finished fourth after a strong effort from Peder Fredricson and Alcapone des Carmille, while Istanbul Warriors recovered from their earlier challenges to take fifth place.
The Paris stage once again highlighted the narrow margins that define the championship. A single rail, a fraction of a second and one mistake can completely change the standings.
Riesenbeck International now head towards Monaco with momentum on their side, but the championship remains far from decided. With only a small gap separating the leading teams, the next stages promise another demanding test of consistency and teamwork.
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