In 2023, Riesenbeck International won the GCL Championship and followed it with GCL Super Cup glory at the GC Playoffs.
Three years later, the first half of that double is complete. Are we about to see history repeat itself?
For Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym, a spectacular victory beneath the Pyramids of Giza secured the 2026 GCL Championship with a stage to spare. Marco Kutscher and Max Weishaupt delivered the result that put the title beyond reach, turning an unforgettable setting into the backdrop for an unforgettable team celebration.
But the Championship was built long before Cairo. Across a season of changing venues, rider combinations and relentless competition, Riesenbeck kept finding a way to deliver.
The Making of Champions
“It was a truly special season!” reflected Ludger Beerbaum. “After a challenging start, all team members consistently delivered top results across different combinations. Nine podium finishes, including five victories, speak for themselves.”
Those numbers tell the story of a team whose strength ran through the whole squad. Different riders stepped forward, different horses rose to the occasion, and the results kept coming.
For Philipp Weishaupt, that sustained performance is what gives the title its meaning.
“Consistency is everything in sport, and that is what makes winning the GCL Championship so special,” he said. “Anyone can have a great day, but to maintain that level of performance week after week, against such an incredibly high standard of competition, is something we are very proud of.”
Behind the podium photographs was a commitment that shaped the team’s entire campaign.
“At every single stage this year, we have made the GCL our priority, bringing our best horses and giving everything for the team,” Philipp explained. “That commitment from everyone involved is what makes the difference, and to see all that hard work pay off with another championship title is incredibly rewarding.”
A Title Sealed Beneath the Pyramids
In Cairo, that preparation met its moment.
With the Championship within reach, Kutscher and Max Weishaupt delivered a stage victory to finish the job in style.
“We knew we had to perform well here, and to win this stage, and the overall championship, we couldn’t be happier,” said an elated Max. “It’s just been the most unbelievable season!”
For Kutscher, the occasion had captured his imagination before he even arrived.
“When I first heard there was the event in front of the Pyramids I put my name on the list right away!” he said. “I have never been to Egypt, and really it proves it was a really good decision — it is just outstanding here.”
He left with a stage victory and a Championship secured.
WATCH: Marco Kutscher and Max Weishaupt react to their Championship-winning performance in Cairo
Big Names. New Opportunities. One Team.
Alongside the experience of Riesenbeck’s established stars, the season offered less experienced teammates the opportunity to contribute on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
For Ciaran Nallon, being part of the Championship-winning squad meant far more than another result.
“To be part of a team alongside some of the biggest names in our sport, and to have been able to contribute to their success along the way, is a dream come true,” he said.
“To ride alongside the best riders in the world, with the support of the best management team, is an incredible privilege. It has been a year I will never forget.”
That sense of opportunity and shared ambition has been central to Riesenbeck’s success: riders learning from one another, backing one another and delivering for the same goal.
WATCH: The winners crowned — Riesenbeck International’s 2026 GCL Championship highlights.
Next Stop: Verona
The Championship belongs to Riesenbeck. The GCL Super Cup is still there to be won.
Their position earns them direct passage to the GCL Super Cup Semi-Final on Friday 20 November, bypassing Thursday’s Quarter-Final at the GC Playoffs in Verona.
It is a valuable advantage. But once they enter the arena, their season’s achievements offer no guarantees. A place in Sunday’s Final must still be earned against teams determined to end the champions’ run.
Riesenbeck know what it takes to complete the double. They did it in 2023. Now, with a second Championship secured and confidence running high, the opportunity is there again.
Will history repeat itself? Be there to find out.
Book your tickets for the GC Playoffs at Veronafiere, 19–22 November, and watch Riesenbeck International begin their GCL Super Cup challenge in the Semi-Final on Friday 20 November.
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