An all-star cast of eight out of the world’s top 10 riders will be heading to Al Shaqab for this weekend’s climax of the 2017 Global Champions Tour (GCT) and Global Champions League.
Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands, Britain’s Scott Brash, Eric Lamaze of Canada, Lorenzo de Luca of Italy, Gregory Wathelet of Belgium, Kevin Staut of France, Peder Fredricson of Sweden and Dutch Maikel van der Vleuten will all be in action at the final leg of the season.
Qatar’s challenge will be led by Olympians Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohammed at the magnificent Al Shaqab arena from November 9 to 11. The finals will play out on the grand stage of Al Shaqab, a member of the Qatar Foundation. This year, Al Shaqab celebrates its’ 25th anniversary, and the three-day event will hold something for all the family, with a kids entertainment area, Arabian displays and a special show to celebrate the anniversary.
There will be a captivating battle for the final overall ranking places after a season of phenomenal Global Champions Tour Grand Prix action across the world in stunning locations.  With competition reaching new heights this year, the LGCT season has seen nail-biting split second finishes from the best horse and rider combinations who consistently compete at every event.
Talking about the top calibre events, Scott Brash said: “The level of competition on the GCT circuit is so high, so to win a Grand Prix or League class you and your horse have to be at the absolute top of your game.”
Lorenzo de Luca said he will be “giving everything” to keep his second place in the overall LGCT championship ranking and said: “GCT is one of the best and most difficult circuits in the world.”
New LGCT Champion Harrie Smolders, who made history this year by taking the title at the penultimate event in Rome, said: “In the Global Champions Tour the level is very, very high because we have the best horses and the best riders in the world. A higher level is not possible.”
Walter von K?nel, President of Longines, said: “We are pleased to be back at the magnificent Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre which will once again provide the perfect backdrop for this much-awaited final of the series. Our brand also looks forward to the weekend’s highlight, the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha, to which we lend our name.”
Lorenzo de Luca currently sits in second with 260 points overall, with Christian Ahlmann of Germany just three points away on 257. Alberto Zorzi of Italy is only a two-point whisker away on 255 points.
Maikel van der Vleuten and two-time LGCT Champion Brash, on 247 and 245 points respectively, will be formidable opponents in the final deciding LGCT Grand Prix of 2017.
In the Global Champions League race to the finish line, teams are tactically fielding heavy-weight combinations for the final push for the overall ranking and season prize money.
Hamburg Diamonds and Valkenswaard United lock horns for the final time in 2017 after their intensive duel for the title crown saw them pull ahead of the pack on points. Other teams including Miami Glory, Paris Panthers, Mexico Amigos, St Tropez Pirates, London Knights, Doha Fursan Qatar, Rome Gladiators and Shanghai Swans will be jostling for an overall GCL Top 10 finish.
Other top riders competing in Doha include Simon Delestre of France, Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia,  Germany’s Daniel Deusser, Marco Kutscher , Belgian Pieter Devos, Ben Maher of Britain, Bertram Allen of Ireland,  Laura Kraut of USA, Marlon Zanotelli of Brazil,  and Lauren Hough of USA.  Winners of LGCT Grand Prix this season will also be competing, including Mexico City winner Martin Fuchs of Switzerland, Miami Beach winner Jerome Guery Belgium, Cannes winner Sergio Alvarez Moya of Spain, and Rome winner Evelina Tovek of Sweden.