Mansur And Vitiki Win LGCT Valkenswaard Grand Prix
Vitiki Ends Long Wait For Mansur
Yuri Mansur produced the standout round of the weekend to win the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard 2026 aboard Vitiki, completing what he described as a long-awaited breakthrough in front of a packed Longines Tops International Arena.
Eight combinations advanced through a demanding first round to reach the jump-off. Mansur and Vitiki went flat out from the start and stopped the clock at 37.27 seconds with every fence left standing, a time that no other rider could match. Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z came closest, finishing seven-tenths of a second slower in 37.97 seconds for second place, while compatriot Annelies Vorsselmans and Trezeguet completed the podium with a double-clear round in 38.85 seconds.
It was the first Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win of Mansur’s career, and the first five-star Grand Prix win for Vitiki, a horse who has previously won at 1.50m and 1.55m level. “I’ve had so many good chances and could never finish the job… finally! Especially with my favourite horse, it is even more special,” Mansur said afterward. He added: “He’s won so many 1.50 and 1.55 Grand Prix’s but we’ve never managed to take a 5* Grand Prix and for it to be a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win makes it even more special. I can’t believe that I have the golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix!”
Devos And Vorsselmans Complete Podium
Devos, making his first appearance on an LGCT Grand Prix podium riding homebred Casual DV, reflected on the closeness of the finish: “Each time we get to do a jump off together I feel like it is getting better and better, and not being far off Yuri makes it disappointing that we didn’t get the ticket for the LGCT Super Grand Prix but really I am very happy with my horse.” He also praised the crowd: “I must say that the crowd was really fantastic today, the tribunes were packed and I couldn’t see the screen but the crowd was shouting so loud I thought I’d managed to get into the lead! Really what makes our sport is the people around so it was really nice to have a lot of people creating a lovely atmosphere here today.”
Vorsselmans, competing in her debut Longines Global Champions Tour season, said her result vindicated the team’s approach: “My horse really deserved this, and sticking to the plan in round 1 really worked.” She added: “in this circuit there are only the best riders, so a clear round doesn’t mean you are on the podium so the jump off really gives a lot of pressure. He has jumped super and he’s fought for me the whole season with great results and really secure rounds - but this one, this is perfect.”
The first round had proven unforgiving for several of the sport’s leading names. Scott Brash and Hello Chadora Lady picked up four faults, finishing 16th. Reigning Valkenswaard champions Harrie Smolders and Monaco also fell to four faults, though Smolders recorded the fastest four-fault round of the class in 72.25 seconds. Philipp Weishaupt and Kilminster picked up 16 faults, while series leader Abdel Saïd, riding Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof, also finished on four faults and missed the jump-off. Edwina Tops-Alexander and Maikel van der Vleuten likewise finished with one rail apiece, ending home hopes for two more of the day’s contenders.
For Mansur and Vitiki, the win carried added significance beyond the result itself. The pair’s partnership has already been defined by resilience, after Vitiki suffered an injury some years earlier; simply returning to compete at this level was itself regarded as a comeback, and Mansur’s emotional reaction on the podium reflected the journey behind the victory as much as the time on the clock.
In the jump-off, Christian Ahlmann set an early, aggressive pace aboard Untouched LB before four faults at the final fence ended his challenge. Vorsselmans then produced the first double clear before Mansur’s decisive round moved him more than a second clear of Ahlmann’s pace while remaining fault-free. Emanuele Camilli, Denis Lynch and Olivier Philippaerts all followed with rounds that could not match Mansur’s time, before Arne van Heel gave the home crowd a clear round in 39.08 seconds. Devos, going last, came closest of all in 37.97 seconds but could not overhaul Mansur’s mark.
Said Still Leads Overall Championship
With Leg 11 of the season complete, Abdel Saïd continues to lead the overall Longines Global Champions Tour Championship on 206 points, ahead of Christian Ahlmann on 182, Edwina Tops-Alexander on 181, Max Kühner on 170 and Scott Brash on 167.5, with the title race tightening as the season moves toward its concluding events.