Yuri Mansur and Vitiki Win the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Valkenswaard in 2026

Shortly before the World Championships in Aachen, Yuri Mansur had thrown down the gauntlet to his Brazilian federation. The Brazilians failed to perform up to their usual standard at the World Championships. Today in Valkenswaard, he and his evergreen partner Vitiki showed what they’re capable of.

Eight pairs had completed the first round without any faults and qualified for the jump-off. Mansur and Vitiki were the third pair. But the Brazilian wasn’t in the mood for tactical riding or playing it safe today. From start to finish, Yuri Mansur rode with everything on the line. It paid off. Vitiki jumped his heart out, remained clear, and took the lead with a time of 37.27 seconds.

The two of them had done their part. Now all they could do was wait and see what the rest would do. They tried, but to no avail.

Belgian rider Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z, the last pair to compete, gave it their all one last time, but were seven-tenths of a second slower and had to settle for second place with a time of 37.97 seconds. Their compatriot Annelies Vorsselmans, riding Trezeguet, rounded out the podium with a flawless round in 38.85 seconds. They were the second pair to compete in the jump-off and delivered a well-paced, swift round.

Finally!

For Yuri Mansur, it was his very first victory in a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix—and he was understandably moved afterward: “I’ve had so many good chances before and was never able to finish the job… finally! And the fact that it happened with my favorite horse of all, of all things, makes it even more special.”

It was also a first for Vitiki, who was once so badly injured in Aachen that people thought his career was over, only to make an even stronger comeback to the sport: his very first victory in a 5* Grand Prix. Hard to believe, but true. “He’s already won so many 1.50-meter and 1.55-meter Grand Prix events, but we’d never managed to win a 5* Grand Prix—and the fact that it’s a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of all things makes it all the more special. I can’t believe I’ve got the golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in my pocket!” said an emotional Yuri Mansur.

Devos: Disappointment and Pride at the Same Time

For Pieter Devos, riding Casual DV Z—an 11-year-old daughter of Cornet Obolensky that he bred himself—second place was a source of both joy and frustration. “Every time we make it to the jump-off together, I feel like we’re getting better and better. The fact that we were so close to Yuri makes it frustrating that we missed out on the ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix—but I’m really very satisfied with my horse.”

Vorsselmans: A Perfect Ending to a Strong Debut Season

Annelies Vorsselmans is competing in her first season on the Global Tour this year. She was beaming from ear to ear as she said, “My horse really earned this, and sticking to the plan in the first round paid off.” She added: “Only the best riders compete in this series, so a clear round doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make it to the podium—the jump-off creates a lot of pressure as a result. He jumped great and has fought for me all season, with fantastic results and very solid rounds. But this round here—that was perfect.”

Ahlmann Finishes

Incidentally, Christian Ahlmann opened the jump-off with his promising young horse Untouched LB, son of Richard Vogel’s United Touch S. Their time of 38.74 seconds would have been enough for third place. But—and this was incredibly frustrating—a rail came down at the final jump, leaving the rider from Marl in sixth place.

Arne van Heel was delighted with a fourth-place finish without any knockdowns aboard Keaton, a Holsteiner Association stallion, who has thus confirmed his new role as the athletic poster child of the Elsmhorn stallion herd.

Both Katrin Eckermann on Iron Dames Cascajall and Sandra Auffarth on Quirici H had one knockdown in the first round but were fast enough to still finish in the rankings. They placed tenth (Eckermann) and eleventh (Auffarth).

You can find all the results here.

A Close Race for the Overall Title in the

After the eleventh round, the race for the overall title in the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour is getting tighter and tighter. Abdel Saïd (BEL) remains in the lead with 206 points, ahead of Christian Ahlmann (GER) with 182 points and Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) with 181 points. They are followed by Max Kühner (AUT) with 170 points and Scott Brash (GBR) with 167.5 points.