Abdel Saïd strengthened his position at the top of the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship with a commanding victory in the Grand Prix of Rome. Riding Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z, the Belgian produced a faultless jump-off round in 35.27 seconds to claim the title and extend his advantage over Germany’s Christian Ahlmann to 17 points with only two stages remaining.
The 13th stage of the Longines Global Champions Tour brought together some of the world’s leading riders for a demanding five-star contest over a 1.60m course. With the Championship battle reaching a decisive phase, every clear round carried considerable significance. Saïd responded to the pressure with a composed performance, combining speed and precision to secure one of the most important victories of his season.
Pieter Devos finished second aboard Casual DV Z in 35.88 seconds, while France’s Lara Tryba claimed third place with Chageorge in 36.19 seconds. Saïd collected the maximum 40 Championship points, taking his overall tally to 241 and strengthening his position ahead of the final two rounds.
Abdel Saïd Delivers When It Matters in Rome
The opening round presented a demanding examination of accuracy, control and consistency. Saïd negotiated the course without fault aboard Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z, securing his place in the jump-off and keeping his Championship ambitions firmly on track.
Several leading combinations found the course more challenging. Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander finished with eight faults aboard Fellow Castlefield, while Germany’s Katrin Eckermann collected four faults with Iron Dames Cascaiall NRW. Both missed the opportunity to challenge for the Grand Prix victory.
The biggest development in the Championship contest came when Ahlmann entered the arena last in the opening round aboard Untouched LB. The German arrived in Rome as Saïd’s closest challenger and had an opportunity to reduce the gap at the top of the standings.
However, a fallen fence left Ahlmann with four faults, placing him 18th and ruling him out of the jump-off. The result gave Saïd a valuable opportunity to extend his advantage, although the Belgian still needed to overcome six qualified rivals to secure the Grand Prix title.
Devos was the first rider to establish a clear benchmark in the jump-off. Partnering Casual DV Z, the Belgian delivered a controlled performance in 35.88 seconds, using efficient turns and a consistent rhythm to set a demanding target for the remaining combinations.
Tryba followed with another impressive effort aboard Chageorge. Fresh from her recent GCL victory in Vienna, the French rider maintained her excellent form, producing a clear round in 36.19 seconds to move into provisional second place. Her performance earned her a place on the podium alongside two of the Tour’s leading competitors.
Simon Delestre also threatened the leading positions with Gatsby du Tillard. The French rider recorded the fastest time of the jump-off, stopping the clock in 34.42 seconds. However, a fallen fence added four faults to his score, preventing him from challenging for the top position despite his impressive speed.
Faultless Jump-Off Secures Rome Grand Prix Victory
Saïd entered the arena knowing that a clear round could strengthen his Championship position considerably. With Ahlmann already out of contention, the Belgian had an opportunity to turn the result in Rome into a significant advantage heading into the final two stages.
Riding Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z, Saïd attacked the course with confidence while maintaining the control needed to keep every fence upright. His combination of pace, accurate turns and an efficient stride pattern proved decisive as he crossed the finish line in 35.27 seconds.
The time placed him 0.61 seconds ahead of Devos and moved him to the top of the Grand Prix standings. Saïd had produced the clear round required to convert his Championship opportunity into a major victory.
Ireland’s Denis Lynch was the final challenger aboard Ping Pong van de Lentamel. Lynch needed to complete a clear round faster than Saïd to take the title, but a fallen fence at the red vertical ended his hopes of victory. He finished in 36.41 seconds with four faults, leaving Saïd confirmed as the Grand Prix of Rome winner.
Jane Richard, riding Aequitus vh Bergerhof Z, incurred four faults in 39.53 seconds, while Monaco’s Anastasia Nielsen finished with eight faults aboard ESI Rocky. Delestre’s four-fault effort left him behind the leading combinations despite recording the fastest time.
The final result underlined the importance of combining speed with accuracy. Saïd’s clear round proved decisive, while the penalties incurred by Delestre and Lynch demonstrated how quickly the order could change in a competitive jump-off.
Pieter Devos Secures Super Grand Prix Qualification
Devos had another important reason to celebrate after finishing second in Rome. The result secured his qualification for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, fulfilling an objective he had pursued throughout the season.
His partnership with Casual DV Z added significance to the achievement. Devos bred the mare and has followed her development from foalhood to the highest level of international competition. Their consistent performances have made them a competitive combination in five-star events.
The Belgian’s clear jump-off round placed immediate pressure on the riders who followed him and ultimately secured second place. Although Saïd proved too quick to catch, Devos left Rome with a strong result and his Super Grand Prix qualification confirmed.
Tryba’s third-place finish further highlighted her recent progress. Her clear performance with Chageorge maintained her momentum after the Vienna success and demonstrated her ability to compete against experienced combinations on the international circuit.
Championship Standings After the Rome Grand Prix
Saïd’s victory took him to 241 points, extending his advantage over Ahlmann, who remained on 224. The gap now stands at 17 points with the Championship approaching its conclusion.
Katrin Eckermann occupies third place with 199 points, followed by Denis Lynch on 196.5 and Edwina Tops-Alexander on 192. The standings remain competitive behind the leading pair, with the remaining stages offering opportunities for further changes.
For Saïd, however, the Rome result represents a substantial step towards the 2026 title. By collecting all 40 available Championship points on an afternoon when his closest rival failed to reach the jump-off, he placed himself in a strong position ahead of the final rounds.
Cairo Next in the Race for the 2026 Title
Attention now turns to Cairo, Egypt, where the Longines Global Champions Tour will take place from 22 to 24 October. The Pyramids of Giza will provide the backdrop for the penultimate stage of the Championship, with Saïd looking to protect his advantage and Ahlmann seeking an opportunity to recover ground.
The Grand Prix of Cairo carries a €1 million prize purse, adding further significance to the contest. Eckermann, Lynch and Tops-Alexander will also be looking to improve their positions as the season approaches its conclusion.
The Championship will then reach its finale in Rabat, where the 2026 title will be decided. Although Saïd holds the advantage, the remaining rounds leave room for further developments, and consistency will be essential for every contender.
After his performance in Rome, Saïd heads towards Cairo with momentum and a 17-point lead. His victory demonstrated the value of maintaining composure under pressure, and his clear jump-off round gave him a significant advantage in the Championship battle.
With two stages remaining, the focus will now be on whether the Belgian can maintain his form and convert his current lead into the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship title.
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