Richard Vogel and United Touch S win the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen 2026

24 of the top 25 riders in the world, including the 2024 Olympic champions, Christian Kukuk and Checker, as well as the 2026 World Cup winner, Kent Farrington with Greya. And the European Champions and Rolex Live Contender Richard Vogel and United Touch S. The Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen always promises the best sport in the world. But today it was perhaps even a little bit better. A pointer towards the World Championships.

Olympic and World Cup winners, last year’s and previous year’s winners – all remained on the track during the two rounds that Frank Rothenberger had built around the already laid out World Championship dressage arena in the Soers.

It was a particular shame for André Thieme and Chakaria, the 2024 winners, as their mistake was purely accidental. The mare made a mistake at the ditch in the first round, got a hoof in the water and almost fell. But she picked herself up again straight away, went under the wall that followed, but got over it without making a fault and jumped the rest of the course without making a fault, as well as the second round. This left them in sixth place, but given the mare’s form, she would have been a more than worthy opponent in the jump-off.

The pricking

In the end there were only three pairs who jumped two clear rounds and into the jump-off, two of them from the same stable: Richard Vogel with his superstar United Touch S, as the winner of ‘s-Hertogenbosch a contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping (aka “Live Contender”) and Sophie Hinners in the saddle of Iron Dames Singclair as well as the positive surprise of the day, Argentina’s José Maria Larocca and the sensationally fighting Finn Lente. The latter already competed at the WEG in Aachen 20 years ago and at three Olympic Games. But jumping to victory in Aachen today was probably the greatest success of his career.

Sophie Hinners started the jump-off. All the way from the warm-up arena past the judges’ tower towards the stadium, her partner David Will gesticulated to her, gave her tips and manually indicated that she should keep the forward rhythm. Sure, what else? The Swedish gelding had jumped two perfect rounds, folded up when things got tight and was able to develop a safe jump out of every situation. It was no different in the jump-off. But it was clear that 51.62 seconds was not a time that would make it impossible for Richard Vogel and United Touch S to take home the 500,000 euro bonus for winning the second Rolex Major in a row.

Mister Perfect

Then the time had come. Enter the superstars. Clear to go for Richard Vogel and United Touch S. Vogel has won Germany’s U25 Jumping Cup in the Aachen Soers three times in a row. He was placed in the Rolex Grand Prix twice in a row with United Touch S. In 2024, the pair gave away the victory with a net roll at the last obstacle. Today was to be different. It was different.

United Touch had already jumped like a different star in the rounds, could be taken back with his little finger and sent forward again at the slightest signal. No more thoughts of the fact that the Untouched son once had problems shortening his giant canter jump in the combinations. He didn’t even come close to a single pole. It was the same in the jump-off. Vogel didn’t even have to make the stallion particularly fast. He simply let him go at his own pace and when an opportunity arose to take a short cut, the pair took it without losing their rhythm. This time, even the last jump was no obstacle.

Faultless, 45.57 seconds, the Soers was upside down. Richard Vogel couldn’t stop stroking his stallion gratefully and pointing his finger at him again and again. Breeder and owner Julius-Peter Sinnack and his companion lay in each other’s arms in the stands. But it was still too early to celebrate. Because there was still one more to go.

The greatest success

“When we ride into the Soers and hear the crowd, it is so incredibly inspiring that extraordinary performances are possible,” enthused Richard Vogel today. And the nice thing about Aachen is that anyone who rides well here is celebrated regardless of their nationality. José Maria Larocca and Finn Lente were no exception. The pair were the last pair in the jump-off that could have challenged Richard Vogel and United Touch S for victory and the first two rounds had shown that it wasn’t luck that got them into the jump-off today, it was ability. They showed that in the jump-off too.

However, you could already see that Larocca had to fight hard to give Finn Lente the best possible support and yet the 16-year-old KWPN gelding by Gaillard de la Pomme did not even come close to United Touch’s time. The clock stopped at 47.36 seconds, second place. Not a win, but second place and still the biggest success for Larocca, who is based in Switzerland.

A day for the history books

Now it was actually done. Richard Vogel and United Touch S had made the seemingly impossible possible and won their second Rolex Grand Prix in a row. Behind the scenes, rider and horse were passed from one congratulation to the next. Steve Guerdat was the first to go to United Touch S to congratulate the champ. Richard Vogel and Julius-Peter Sinnack were in each other’s arms. The Soers went wild.

At the presentation ceremony, Richard Vogel said: “United Touch has once again proven to the world what an incredible horse he is. Not only because of his canter and his infinite ability, but above all because of his character. He always wants to give his all. At home we have to work a lot on him sitting down and shortening his canter – and he works so well with that …”

What does his victory mean to him? “It’s a dream come true. To have come here as a Rolex Live Contender and now to have won the Rolex Grand Prix – it’s a day we will never forget.”

On the lap of honor, he celebrated once again, galloped along the entire length of the Soers and applauded the audience, whom he had previously thanked so warmly for their support. A few hands will probably remain unwashed over the next few days.

The other Germans

And how did the other German participants fare? Daniel Deußer and Otello de Guldenboom, the runners-up in the World Cup Final, looked like candidates for the jump-off in the first round and stayed clear. But in round two it wasn’t quite right, Otello saved himself, but the pole fell afterwards. Another one followed. Eight penalty points, 16th place.

Marcus Ehning and Coolio had a slight knockdown in the first round and would have missed the second round of the top 18 by two places. Five faults were the result for an otherwise super jumping Cody under René Dittmer. The same fate befell Christian Ahlmann and Untouched LB, a son of the winner United Touch S.

Christian Kukuk and Checker picked up two faults in the first round. Sandra Auffarth and Quirici H received twelve penalty points, 14 for the 2011 winner, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann, with Cascais. And Philipp Weishaupt decided not to continue on the course in round one.

You can find all the results from Aachen here.