Riesenbeck International strengthened their grip on the 2026 Global Champions League (GCL) title race after producing another flawless team performance to claim a dramatic victory in Monaco, where just six hundredths of a second separated the top two teams.
Monaco GCL results 2026.
The German outfit, powered by Horse Gym, continued their remarkable mid-season surge by securing a third consecutive GCL triumph following earlier victories in St Tropez and Paris. In one of the closest finishes the championship has witnessed, Riesenbeck International and Madrid In Motion both completed the competition without a single penalty, leaving combined time to decide the winner.
Four immaculate rounds from Maximilian Weishaupt aboard Zuccero HV and Marco Kutscher with Pikeur Lemar NRW proved decisive. Their combined time of 139.61 seconds narrowly eclipsed Madrid In Motion’s 139.67 seconds, handing Riesenbeck International victory by just 0.06 seconds.
The latest success further establishes the German team as the benchmark heading into the second half of the championship, with the transfer window now offering rivals one final opportunity to reshape their squads before the title battle intensifies.
Kutscher described the achievement as one of the proudest moments in the team’s history.
“To win three GCL stages in a row is something very special,” he said. “We’ve achieved back-to-back wins before, but this is the first time we’ve managed three consecutive victories, so we’re incredibly happy.
“Today’s competition was tough over two demanding rounds, and for my horse it was the first time jumping under the floodlights here in Monaco. The feeling was fantastic, and both horses delivered brilliantly. To repeat what we achieved in Paris with the exact same riders and horses makes this result even more satisfying.”
Weishaupt also praised the adaptability shown by the horses after repeating their Paris-winning display in a vastly different environment.
“Coming here after Paris with the same horse and producing another winning performance shows just how versatile these horses are,” he said. “Monaco asks completely different questions, but my horse felt super all day and it was a lot of fun to ride here.
“To make it three wins in a row for the team is an incredible achievement, and having our owners here to celebrate with us makes it even more special.”
Madrid In Motion were left wondering how they could have come any closer without winning. Kim Emmen partnered Hellix du Seigneur to another composed clear before Maikel van der Vleuten completed a faultless round aboard Beauville Z N.O.P., only to miss out on victory by the narrowest possible margin.
Van der Vleuten took encouragement from the performance despite the agonising defeat.
“We all know what Kim is capable of, and we had a lot of confidence in our horses today,” he said. “In an arena like Monaco, it’s about making it as easy as possible for them and making sure we don’t do anything wrong ourselves. That’s exactly what we did today.
“Beauville felt fantastic. He’s such a professional and always tries his best to leave the rails up. To be back on the podium is a great result for the team and gives us a lot of confidence heading into the next shows.”
Shanghai Swans completed the podium after recovering impressively in the second round. Christian Ahlmann guided Sheeran WL to a polished clear before Max Kühner bounced back from an earlier mistake by producing a faultless round aboard EIC Up Too Jacco Blue, lifting the team into third place.
Kühner said every championship point could prove significant later in the campaign.
“To come away with third after where we were following the first round is a really positive result for the team,” he said. “Every championship point matters at this stage of the season, and while we’re always looking at how we can improve, we’re also thinking ahead to the Final.”
Monaco once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most technically demanding stops on the GCL calendar. The compact Port Hercule arena rewarded precision and consistency, with little margin for error throughout two pressure-filled rounds. The revised 2026 format, allowing only the top 10 teams to progress to Round 2, added further intensity to an already fiercely contested evening.
Several teams found the challenging course unforgiving. Basel Cosmopolitans powered by Les Trois Rois produced two excellent clear rounds in the second phase but remained fourth after carrying penalties forward from Round 1. Riyadh Knights improved to finish fifth, while Scandinavian Vikings slipped out of podium contention after penalties in the closing stages.
The decisive moment came when Prague Lions, the final team into the arena, failed to maintain their challenge after an early rail from Niels Bruynseels aboard Chacco’s Lando OL. Their hopes faded completely when Pieter Devos and Jarina J accumulated further penalties, confirming Riesenbeck International’s historic third straight victory.
With Monaco complete, attention now turns to the GCL transfer window, where every team has one opportunity to strengthen its line-up before the championship enters its decisive second half. Riesenbeck International now carry considerable momentum, but with several rounds still to come, the race for the 2026 title remains far from settled.
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