Tears of joy, extraordinary sporting highs and a championship dream realised. The 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour season came to a spectacular conclusion in Rabat today as Sweden's Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli delivered a sensational victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rabat, while Belgium's Abdel Saïd celebrated the greatest achievement of his career as the 2026 LGCT Champion.
Against the stunning backdrop of Morocco's capital, a sold-out crowd witnessed a thrilling finale to a season that has taken the world's leading show jumping riders across continents, iconic cities and some of the most spectacular venues in international sport.
The Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat, founded by Qatar's Years of Culture initiative, once again brought world-class equestrian sport and cultural exchange together, providing a fitting stage for the conclusion of an unforgettable 2026 championship campaign.
It was an emotional afternoon for Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli, who produced a stunning performance aboard Iron Dames Calvino II de Nyze Z to claim victory in the €612,100 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rabat and securing the final ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Verona.
First to enter the arena in a nine-horse jump-off, the Swedish rider delivered a beautifully judged clear in 47.91 seconds, setting a benchmark that would withstand every challenge from the world's best. Ireland's Denis Lynch came agonisingly close aboard Cordial, producing a spectacular clear in 48.02 seconds, just 0.11 seconds behind the winner. His second-place finish proved crucial in the overall championship battle, securing third place in the final standings.
Completing the LGCT Grand Prix of Rabat podium was Germany's Christian Ahlmann, who delivered the fastest jump-off time of the competition aboard Untouched LB, stopping the clock in 46.24 seconds. However, one unfortunate rail left him on four penalties, securing third place in Rabat and confirming his position as the 2026 LGCT Championship runner-up.
Having secured the championship title at the historic inaugural LGCT of Cairo, Saïd arrived in Rabat knowing that his remarkable season had already earned him the sport's ultimate individual championship honour. Finishing the year on 245 points, the Belgian rider claimed the prestigious title and the lion's share of the €950,000 championship prize money, capping off a season defined by determination, consistency and outstanding performances at the highest level.
Behind him, however, the battle for the remaining podium positions went right down to the wire. Christian Ahlmann entered the final LGCT Grand Prix determined to secure second place in the championship. A clear opening round put him firmly in contention, and despite one rail in the jump-off, his third-place finish was enough to secure the runner-up position on 240 points, just five behind Saïd.
For Denis Lynch, the final LGCT Grand Prix presented one last opportunity to climb the championship standings. Delivering a superb double clear aboard Cordial, the Irishman secured second place in Rabat and finished the season third overall on 233 points, completing a fiercely competitive championship podium. Just behind the leading three, Simon Delestre secured fourth place overall on 218 points, while Pieter Devos, fresh from his Grand Prix victory in Cairo, completed the championship top five on 213.86 points.
After 15 stages of extraordinary competition, the final championship standings reflected the consistency, resilience and world-class performances required to succeed across the one of a kind LGCT calendar.
Jan Tops, Founder and President of Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL: “Every leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour is special in its own way, and that is what makes this championship so unique. Rabat is always a fantastic place to finish our season, and every year the organisers continue to raise the bar and deliver an even better event. It is a real pleasure to return here and see how much the sport continues to grow.
We have had an incredible season, with the very best riders and horses in the world competing at the highest level. What makes this championship so special is the consistency required throughout the year. The riders at the top have proven themselves time and time again, and that is what it takes to become a champion. I am extremely proud of how the Longines Global Champions Tour continues to develop. Every year, our series becomes stronger, the standard of competition gets higher and we continue to bring our sport to some of the most iconic destinations around the world.
I would also like to sincerely thank our long-standing Title Partner and Official Timekeeper, Longines, for their continued trust and support, which is so important to the success of our Tour. A special thank you also goes to Qatar's Years of Culture initiative for their support here in Rabat and for helping us bring together world-class sport and cultural exchange. Together with our partners, organisers, riders and teams, we have delivered another exceptional season, and I am very proud of what we have achieved.”
A visibly emotional Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli struggled to put into words what today’s victory with Calvino meant to her. “I am very overwhelmed. This is more than I expected today,” she said. “I am so thankful to my horse, to the whole team, and to Debora and the Iron Dames for giving me the opportunity to ride this amazing horse. It has been a long time since I last won a five-star Grand Prix, and to do it again here in Rabat is incredibly special.”
For Angelica, the victory belonged to everyone behind the scenes as much as those celebrating beside the arena. “Our team is very special. We are incredibly close - it feels like family. From the team here to everyone at home in the stables and at Ashford Farm, I feel that this victory is shared by all of us.”
Reflecting on his championship-winning season, Abdel Saïd paid tribute to his horses and the team behind his success. “It’s unbelievable. This was a dream, and now it has become a reality. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child. Growing up, I watched all these top riders, including the guys sitting next to me today, and the likes of Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Scott Brash, winning the championship. Seeing them achieve that success was incredibly inspiring, and to now be sitting here myself as the Longines Global Champions Tour Champion is honestly a dream come true. It’s an incredible moment for me and my whole team."
Christian Ahlmann explained: “I am very, very happy. It means a lot to me. To be honest, Untouched has done 90% of the work throughout the entire season. He is still quite a young horse, and he has developed incredibly well from show to show. I knew I still had a chance to win the championship in Rome, although it was a very small one, but Abdel finished the job. For us, it has been a journey of building step by step, finding our rhythm and overcoming the challenges along the way. I am super, super happy with what we have achieved.”
Denis Lynch smiled: “First of all, a big thank you once again to Jan and his entire team for what they have delivered here this weekend and all year. It really is incredible, and we are very lucky to be able to compete at events like this. For me our goal from the beginning was the team, and when you are riding for a strong team and performing consistently, you naturally put yourself in a good position in the Grand Prix and the overall championship as well. Finishing third in the individual championship is really the icing on the cake.
Of course, I have also been incredibly fortunate to have Cordial, who has been an unbelievable horse for me and so consistent throughout the season. He has played a huge part in everything we have achieved. Now we look ahead to Verona, and I think it is going to be very exciting. There are so many strong combinations heading into the Playoffs, and I am sure it will be another spectacular event, just as we have seen in Prague and Riyadh in previous years. I am really looking forward to it. I will be bringing my best horses, making sure I am on top of my own game and giving it absolutely everything.”
Final 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship Standings
1st – Abdel Saïd (BEL) – 245 points
2nd – Christian Ahlmann (GER) – 240 points
3rd – Denis Lynch (IRL) – 233 points
4th – Simon Delestre (FRA) – 218 points
5th – Pieter Devos (BEL) – 213.86 points
6th – Max Kühner (AUT) – 208 points
7th – Sophie Hinners (GER) – 206.5 points
8th – Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) – 200 points
9th – Katrin Eckermann (GER) – 199 points
10th – Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) – 192 points
With a sold-out crowd watching on, the opening round of the final LGCT Grand Prix of 2026 immediately delivered the pressure and drama expected of a championship finale. A demanding course tested the world's leading combinations, with every fence carrying significant consequences for the overall championship standings.
For Max Kühner, the opening round brought disappointment. Entering Rabat still in contention for a place on the championship podium, the Austrian rider collected 12 penalties aboard EIC Up Too Jacco Blue, ending his hopes of climbing into the top three. The newly crowned champion, Abdel Saïd, also found himself among those unable to produce a clear round. Riding Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z, the Belgian finished on 12 penalties, but with the championship title already secured in Cairo, there was no taking away from his extraordinary season.
With Kühner out of contention, the battle for the remaining championship podium positions intensified, as Christian Ahlmann, Denis Lynch, Sophie Hinners and Pieter Devos all delivered crucial clear rounds to secure their places in the jump-off. For Ahlmann and Lynch, the stakes were particularly high, with second and third place in the overall championship still to be decided. Hinners and Devos were also chasing valuable points that could transform their final championship positions. Elsewhere, the opening round delivered its share of surprises.
Germany's Marcus Ehning, one of the biggest names in international show jumping, retired aboard Stargold, bringing his final Grand Prix appearance of the regular season to an early conclusion. Luxembourg's Victor Bettendorf produced the fastest four-fault round aboard Gibbs Un Prince, stopping the clock in 72.90 seconds, but a single rail left him agonisingly outside the jump-off places.
With nine of the world's leading combinations returning to the arena, the final jump-off of the 2026 LGCT season promised a spectacular showdown. The championship podium remained in play, while the Grand Prix victory was anyone's to claim.
First into the arena, Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli knew she had to set a competitive target for the eight riders still to come. Aboard Iron Dames Calvino II de Nyze Z, the Swedish rider opted for a neat, tidy and beautifully controlled round, finding the perfect balance between accuracy and speed. Crossing the finish line clear in 47.91 seconds, she set the standard and put the pressure firmly on the rest of the field.
Next to challenge was Germany's Sophie Hinners, who immediately showed that the leading time was beatable. Aboard Iron Dames Singclair, she attacked the course with determination, taking risks in pursuit of the top spot. However, two costly rails left her on eight penalties, despite a quicker time of 47.69 seconds, ending her hopes of a podium.
With second place in the overall championship on the line, Christian Ahlmann entered the arena aboard Untouched LB knowing exactly what was at stake. The German produced a lightning-fast round, attacking every turn and stopping the clock in an extraordinary 46.24 seconds, the fastest time of the jump-off. But one unfortunate rail proved costly, leaving him on four penalties. It was enough to put him into a provisional podium position, but he would have to wait to discover whether it would secure his championship ambitions.
The pressure then shifted to Ireland's Denis Lynch, who had everything to fight for aboard his incredibly consistent partner Cordial. Determined to secure a strong finish to the championship, Lynch gave it everything, riding flat out to the final fence in pursuit of Augustsson Zanotelli's time. A sensational clear in 48.02 seconds saw him cross the finish just 0.11 seconds behind the leader, moving into provisional second place and keeping the championship battle alive.
Fresh from his LGCT Grand Prix victory in Cairo just one week earlier, Pieter Devos was next to take on the challenge aboard Primo DV. The Belgian rider arrived in Rabat full of confidence and attacked the course in pursuit of another podium finish. However, two rails fell along the way, leaving him on eight penalties in 48.65 seconds. While another LGCT Grand Prix victory was out of reach, the result still earned him valuable championship points.
The tension continued to build as the Netherlands' Sanne Thijssen entered aboard Cupcake Z. Unfortunately, it was not to be their day. A difficult round saw several fences fall, with the pair finishing on 20 penalties in 49.10 seconds, ending their hopes of challenging the leading positions.
Having enjoyed an extraordinary weekend in Rabat, including victory in Saturday's CSI5* 1.50m competition, Ireland's Ciaran Nallon was looking to continue his remarkable form aboard Iglesias D.V. However, the risks did not pay off this time. An early rail and a costly refusal disrupted their rhythm, with further penalties bringing their total to 31 in 75.45 seconds, putting them out of contention for the podium.
With only two riders remaining, Augustsson Zanotelli's opening clear was still proving impossible to beat. Germany's Philipp Weishaupt entered aboard the talented nine-year-old Callao L, determined to give the young horse every opportunity to shine on one of the sport's biggest stages. The pair produced an impressive effort, but one rail fell, leaving them on four penalties in 48.75 seconds. It was a valuable performance from the young horse, but not enough to challenge the leading two.
Everything now rested on the final rider. Last into the arena, Ireland's Harry Allen had the opportunity to rewrite the result aboard Edison de Hus. With Augustsson Zanotelli and Lynch occupying the top two positions, Allen knew a clear round could put him firmly in contention for victory.
He gave it everything, attacking the course with determination, but one costly rail brought his challenge to an end. Crossing the finish line in 48.08 seconds with four penalties, he narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing fourth. And with that, the result was confirmed. Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli had done it. First into the jump-off, the Swedish rider had watched eight of the world's best combinations attempt to beat her time, but none could find the answer.
As the reality of her achievement sank in, the emotion was overwhelming. Tears of joy marked an unforgettable moment as Augustsson Zanotelli celebrated a sensational victory in the final Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the 2026 season.
As the sun set on the final Grand Prix in Rabat, the curtain officially came down on another extraordinary Longines Global Champions Tour championship season. From the opening stages of the year to the historic debut beneath the Pyramids of Giza and the spectacular finale in Morocco, the 2026 Tour has delivered unforgettable sporting moments, fierce championship rivalries and world-class competition across the globe.
But while the regular season has reached its conclusion, one final spectacular showdown awaits.
From 19–22 November 2026, the world's best riders and horses will descend on Verona, Italy, for the GC Playoffs, where more than €11 million in prize money will be at stake across the GCL Super Cup and the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix.
In Verona, one last extraordinary chapter is still to be written