The stadium at CHIO Aachen is the cathedral of showjumping and 40,000 spectators descended there on Sunday to worship at its altar, witnessing the best Rolex Grand Prix held there since statistical records began in 2010.The horses and riders who lined up to contest the €500,000 (US$580,200) first prize were in the form of their lives, all wishing for their names to be etched on the wall among the pantheon of greats who have come before them.After two days of fierce qualifying rounds, 40 competitors came forward for Sunday’s thriller, which was held over three rounds, with the 18 best progressing from round one into round two. Whoever jumped clear in the first two rounds progressed to the jump-off against the clock.Just three riders managed this, and it was Germany’s Richard Vogel, ranked third in the world, who walked away with the honour of being the 2026 Aachen Rolex Grand Prix champion.Riding the 14-year-old stallion United Touch S, with whom he became European Champion last year, Vogel put in three rounds of immaculate jumping.The bay, who is known for his massive stride and gravity-defying scope, is owned and bred by Julius-Peter Sinnack, and ate up the Aachen turf smoothly. The pair stopped the clock in the jump-off on 45.57 seconds, some 1.79 seconds ahead of second-placed Argentinian combination Jose Maria Larocca Jr and Finn Lente.“It’s a dream come true to win this class,” said Vogel. “This is my favourite show in the world – winning it is something incredible and for sure, we will never forget this day.”