Ioli Mytilineou Surprise Winner of LGCT Grand Prix in Madrid

It was a landmark day in the Spanish capital as Ioli Mytilineou delivered the performance of a lifetime to claim victory in the €500,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid 2025. Aboard the sensational L’Artiste de Toxandra, Mytilineou triumphed in a thrilling, lightning-fast jump-off against podium veteran Marco Kutscher and Aventador S, securing her coveted golden ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix.

In front of a standing-room-only crowd at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Hans-Dieter Dreher continued his impressive run of form to round out the podium. With a flawless double clear aboard the ultra-consistent Elysium, Dreher reaffirmed the gelding’s place among the sport’s elite.

As the sun dipped behind the rolling hills of this iconic venue, Santiago Varela Ullastres’ 1.60m track delivered a true test of scope, accuracy, and strategy – culminating in a heart-stopping jump-off that kept spectators on the edge of their seats during the fourth stage of the 2025 Championship season.

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Speaking after her emotional win, a visibly elated Mytilineou said: “I really just did all I could. As I said earlier, I know I need to get quicker myself, but my horse jumped unbelievably today. The crowd here is unbelievable and it just makes it even better!”

Reflecting on the magnitude of the moment, she continued: “This is my first-ever 5* Grand Prix win. A couple of years ago in the LGCT of A Coruña, I was in a similar position, but the final rider in the jump-off beat my time. So today, I honestly didn’t believe I could hold on to the win.”

And as the reality of earning her golden ticket sank in, Mytilineou’s smile said it all. “Prague is an unbelievable venue,” she beamed. “Now I’m going to plan my season around producing a big result there. I’m so grateful to Deborah [Mayer] for the opportunity to ride here in Madrid.”

After qualifying for the jump off in the 2024 LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid but failing to make the podium with a fourth place finish, runner-up Marco Kutcher said: “I am very happy with our result today. Aventador S gave everything, and the course was challenging but fair. The atmosphere here in Madrid is always special – the crowd’s support is incredible. It’s a pleasure to ride in such an environment.”

Third-placed Hans-Dieter Dreherwas all smiles after “It was a really interesting jump off – I didn’t have such a great start, I was really deep into number two so I had to do an extra stride to fence three, but my horse jumped really good. It really is an unbelievable show and I couldn’t be more happy.”

After a dramatic fourth stage of the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour in Madrid, the Championship standings have been shaken once again. Belgium’s Gilles Thomas now leads the overall rankings on 87 points, thanks to a consistent string of top performances. Edwina Tops-Alexander, who did not compete in Madrid, slips to second with 75 points but remains firmly in contention as the season intensifies. Ireland’s Denis Lynch holds steady in third on 67.2 points following another strong showing, while Abdel Saïd surges into fourth on 64 points, tied with Germany’s Jörne Sprehe, who also continues her steady rise up the leaderboard.

It was hugs all around following Ioli’s emotional win. (LGCT photo)

With just four stages completed, the race for the 2025 LGCT Championship title is already delivering fierce competition and unexpected twists.

The first round of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid was a rollercoaster of emotion, as the challenging track took its toll. Only seven riders managed to produce a clear round, with several of the sport’s biggest names – including Simon Delestre, Jérôme Guery, and Christian Ahlmann – forced to retire mid-course, underscoring the course’s difficulty. Heartbreaking single rails from Katrin Eckermann, Henrik von Eckermann, Gilles Thomas, Sophie Hinners, and local favourite Manuel Fernandez Saro kept them agonisingly out of the jump-off despite impressive efforts.

It was a round marked by drama, tension, and unpredictability – everything that makes LGCT Grand Prix nights truly unmissable.

But the jump-off was a rollercoaster of emotion.

As the current World Number One, Kent Farrington and Greya had the unenviable task of being first to go in the jump-off. Aiming to reclaim the LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid title, Kent set a blistering pace aboard his top mount. But the risk proved too much – an ambitious approach to the oxer at the centre of the arena cost him a rail, and with the final fence also falling, his total of 8 faults left the door wide open for those to follow.

Hans-Dieter Dreher took a more measured approach with Elysium, opting for control over outright speed. Riding with trademark precision, he guided his horse to a clear round, stopping the clock safely without dislodging a single pole in 36.12 seconds. It wasn’t the fastest time, but his clean sheet instantly piled the pressure on the rest of the field to match both speed and accuracy.

Ireland’s Cian O’Connor came out of the gate with intent, mirroring Kent’s explosive start. Determined to challenge for the win onboard Bentley de Sury, he flew around the early part of the course, but once again, the Madrid oxer in the middle of the arena proved costly. With a rail down there, his chances slipped, adding four faults to the scoreboard despite an otherwise competitive performance.

A breakout performance under Madrid’s evening sky, Ioli Mytilineou lit up the arena with a dazzling ride. Riding at full throttle yet in perfect sync, she blazed through the course to stop the clock in 34.00 seconds exactly, making the tight rollback turns look effortless. As she crossed the finish line, the crowd erupted – had she just sealed the win with L’Artiste de Toxandra?

Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z delivered a smooth and composed round, but his pace couldn’t quite match the lightning-fast time laid down by Ioli. Losing crucial seconds early in the course, he stopped the clock in 36.40 seconds – clean, but not quick enough to snatch the lead. Nonetheless, it was a classy and calculated performance that kept him in the mix for a podium.

Returning as the defending champion, Christian Kukuk and Cepano Baloubet looked focused on writing back-to-back history in Madrid. With all eyes on him, he launched into the course with serious intent – but disaster struck early. After a big effort at the joker fence the Madrid oxer, Kukuk lost balance on landing and came off, ending his campaign in heartbreaking fashion and ruling out a repeat win.

Last to go in the dramatic jump-off, Marco Kutscher had the clear target of chasing down Ioli’s stunning time with Aventador S. Setting off with purpose, he delivered a tight and tidy round, but the seconds slipped away through the turns. Despite a valiant effort, his time slotted him just behind Ioli, claiming second place and bringing a thrilling jump-off to a close.

With the Championship standings tightening and momentum shifting, the Tour now rolls on to the glittering French Riviera for the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cannes, 5-7 June, where more Championship drama awaits.

Full results here.