From Opportunity to Impact: The Power of GCL’s U25 Rule

The Under 25 riders of the GCL have become one of the defining forces shaping the modern era of the sport. 

What began as a rule designed to create opportunity - requiring every GCL team to include at least one U25 rider within its six-athlete squad - has evolved into something far more powerful. The ultimate team  championship is no longer simply a place to learn alongside the greats. It is a stage where young riders step forward, deliver under pressure and lay the foundations of world-class careers.

Few stories illustrate that evolution more clearly than Gilles Thomas. Once the U25 rider learning his trade within the GCL, Thomas has since graduated from the age group and, at just 27, stands as both a reigning GCL champion with Valkenswaard United and the current Longines Global Champions Tour Champion. His rise is emblematic of what the GCL now represents - not a stepping stone, but a catalyst.

At every stage, the stories of the GCL are written not only in results, but in relationships - between generations, between nations, and between riders still finding their place and those preparing to pass the reins. That was never clearer than in Rabat last season, when the St Tropez Pirates claimed their second victory of the year. Their line-up told its own story: 23-year-old Thibault Philippaerts, in his milestone debut 5* LGCT season, riding alongside 62-year-old Philippe Rozier, announcing his retirement from the sport he helped shape. It was a passing of the torch, a reminder that in GCL, experience and youth do not compete for space - they combine toward the same goal.

Each GCL team is carefully constructed by owners and managers balancing star power with strategy. Within that framework, the U25 rule acts as a bridge between ambition and belonging. A few years ago, Thomas spoke candidly about what that opportunity meant to him, recalling how he had watched the League on television before suddenly finding himself riding alongside legends. Today, he is the proof point. The GCL does not simply showcase talent - it accelerates it.

The 2026 season underlines just how competitive the U25 landscape has become. Doha Falcons welcome Caroline Rehoff Pedersen, who impressed during her GCL debut with the Stockholm Hearts IN 2025, before stepping up into the Falcons’ squad. Jack Whitaker continues his journey with Madrid In Motion, riding alongside established stars while carving his own legacy, already boasting GCL podium finishes dating back to 2022.

At the Monaco Aces, local talent Íñigo López de la Osa Franco brings consistency and composure after shining with clear rounds in 2025, including Stage 1 in Doha. The Basel Cosmopolitans field the unflappable Géraldine Straumann, whose calm under pressure continues to turn heads.

New pathways are opening too. Ismail Osama El Borai makes his GCL debut with the newly formed Cairo Pharaohs, while Anastasia Nielsen, fresh from a breakthrough 2025 season including victory in the LGCT Grand Prix of Rabat, lines up for Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames.

Continuity also plays its part. Oliver Fletcher remains with Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team, having contributed to podium finishes in Paris and Rabat. Ireland’s presence is strong once again, with Niamh McEvoy joining the Mexico Amigos for her GCL debut, while Max Wachman becomes the U25 cornerstone of New York Empire powered by Lugano, following a standout season that made him one of the most sought-after names of the off-season. His brother Tom Wachman returns with the Riyadh Knights, ready to assert himself in the GCL once more.

Youth and elite systems intersect at Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym, where Ciaran Nallon joins a squad shaped by the Beerbaum programme, following a pathway that has already produced champions. The Rome Gladiators lean fully into youth, fielding three U25 riders including debutant Jennifer Hochstädter, alongside returning talents Luiz Felipe Neto de Azevedo and Yali Kass.

For the Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team, Thibeau Spits remains central to their ambitions, his breakout 2024 season still resonating as he looks to drive the team back toward the podium. The reimagined St Tropez Pirates add further firepower with French talents Antoine Ermann and Jeanne Sadran, while Italian favourite Giacomo Casadei strengthens the Shanghai Swans. Meanwhile, Sara Vingrálková continues as a cornerstone of the Scandinavian Vikings, bringing experience beyond her years.

Perhaps the most talked-about move of all sees Thibault Philippaerts join championship-winning Valkenswaard United, stepping into a line-up stacked with proven winners. It is a statement of confidence - from the rider, and from the team backing him.

What is clear heading into 2026 is that the U25 market is tighter than ever. Talent is abundant, competition is fierce, and teams must fight to retain their young stars as transfers and mid-season moves continue to shape the League. The next generation is no longer waiting its turn. It is already here.

The season begins in Doha from 4–7 March at Al Shaqab. Join us to see which U25 riders start the year as they mean to go on. Buy tickets now.