GCL EXPLAINED: Your Backstage Pass to Show Jumping’s Ultimate Team Showdown

GCL Explained
The Ultimate Team Showdown

What is GCL?

The GCL is the ultimate team competition in show jumping, where in 2025 the world’s best riders join forces to compete across a thrilling 15-stage championship season and culminates in the high intensity showdown of the GC Prague Playoffs.

Launched in 2016, GCL revolutionized show jumping by introducing a strategic team format, allowing riders of different nationalities to compete together while mixing senior athletes with U25 rising stars.

Key GCL Team Facts:

• 17 teams with six riders each, including at least one U25 rider
• Guided by a team manager who makes tactical decisions
• Mid-season transfers allow teams to swap riders for a competitive edge

How Does GCL Work?

Each event follows a high-stakes, two-round format—both rounds take place on the same day, demanding strategy, precision, and speed.

• Round 1: CSI 5* 1.55m course
• Round 2: CSI 5* 1.60m course

No drop scores - every fault counts. If teams tie on penalties, the fastest Round 2 time determines the winner. A stage victory earns 30 championship points, making every event critical in the race to the title.

The Road to GCL Glory

At the end of the regular season, the team with the most points is crowned GCL Champion. But the real drama unfolds at the GC Playoffs, where the top four teams automatically qualify for the GCL Super Cup Semi-Finals, skipping the Quarter-Finals for a competitive advantage. With glory for some, there is heartbreak for others, with the 17th ranked team in the 15-stage championship race, failing to qualify for the ultimate final showdown at the GC Playoffs.

The three knockout rounds of the GCL Super Cup decide the ultimate team champions, with €10 million in prize money on the line.

Quick GCL Facts:

• Each team can bring three riders per event, but only two compete per round.
• Penalties from Round 1 carry into Round 2, impacting strategy.
• Fastest combined time in Round 2 wins the stage if penalties are tied.
• The season’s top-ranked team is crowned GCL Champion.
• The GC Playoffs decide the GCL Super Cup Champions in a thrilling three-round battle.

Watch the GCL Explainer Video

Want to understand every GCL rule like a pro? Let Olivier Philippaerts, a GCL veteran and rider for Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses, break it all down in our GCL Explainer Video.

GCL – Show Jumping’s Greatest Team Challenge

Don’t miss a moment of the action—stream the ultimate team battle live on GCTV.