FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET
January 5 2025
As of December 9, 2025, Spain enters the 2026 World Championship cycle as a major powerhouse and arguably the strongest challenger to France’s dominance.
Spain is currently the Reigning European Champion, having won the Team Gold Medal at the FEI European Championship in Castiglione del Lago, Italy, in June 2025. This victory has solidified their status as a top contender for the World title in AlUla.
Here is the detailed status of the Spanish Team ("Equipo Español") for the 2026 cycle:
1. Current Team Status: European Champions
Spain is riding high on momentum from their 2025 European victory.
- Recent Form: At the 2025 European Championships, the Spanish team displayed exceptional tactical discipline. While the Dutch rider Marijke Visser won the individual gold, Spain won the Team Gold by having three riders finish in the top 11—a feat of consistency that is critical for team championships.
- Desert Specialists: Historically, Spanish riders and horses (often bred at the Juma’s Team stables) excel on fast, flat, and warm courses. They are very comfortable with the high speeds expected in the Saudi desert, often training or competing in the UAE during the winter.
2. Key Contenders ("The Watch List")
The Spanish selection is deep, often centered around the powerhouse stables in Catalonia.
- Gil Berenguer Carrera: The current star of the team.
- Status: Won Individual Bronze at the 2025 European Championships.
- Horse: Jilguero II (formerly Clavijo de Guad), who also won the prestigious Best Condition award at the 2025 Euros. This combination is a top medal threat for AlUla.
- Maria Alvarez Ponton: A legend of the sport (2010 World Champion).
- Status: She was part of the Gold Medal team in 2025 but was "Failed to Qualify" (FTQ) individually on her horse Fatal during the race. However, her experience makes her indispensable. She has a deep string of horses, including JM El Sobrino.
- Omar Blanco Rodrigo:
- Status: Finished 6th at the 2025 European Championships, proving he can ride at the elite pace required for medals.
- Juan Carlos Ruiz de Villa:
- Status: The steady finisher who secured the Team Gold in 2025 by finishing 11th on L.M. Whisky.
3. Strategic Outlook for AlUla
- Speed vs. Terrain: Spanish riders are known for riding fast. The AlUla course (technical, sandy, and rocky) is different from the flat tracks of Dubai. The team’s success will depend on whether they choose their "desert speed" horses or their "technical terrain" horses.
- Selection Trial: Like France, the Spanish federation (RFHE) will likely use the AlFursan Cup in February 2026 as a final observation trial. Expect to see the "Juma's Team" vans in Saudi Arabia this winter.
Summary of the "Big Three" Status
- France: Reigning World Champions (2024). Deepest bench.
- Spain: Reigning European Champions (2025). Fastest riders.
- Bahrain/UAE: The "Home Court" favorites (due to desert familiarity).