Rome: teams ready for the 13th GCL leg

Rome Gladiators at the start with Laura Kraut and Laura Renwick for the home crowd, while Valkenswaard United' Bertram Allen and Emily Moffitt will try their best to keep their top place on the ranking

Rome, September 2016 – In two days the Global Champions League is about to debut in Rome. The season gallops towards the final and the fight for the overall championship ranking could not be closer. It will be a spell-binding competition the one at the Stadio dei Marmi, with a wafer-thin 1.5 points between the top two ranked teams Valkenswaard United (279.5 points) and Antwerp Diamonds (278 points), and just a further 3.5 points for third place team Monaco Aces (274.5 points). Ringed by 59 marble statues depicting different Olympic sports, the stunning arena will host in its perfect backdrop the 13th leg of the GCL debut championship, kicking off at 15.10 local time on Sunday 11th.

The pressure for the current leaders will be hanging on the shoulders of its young talents, Bertram Allen (IRL) and Emily Moffitt (USA), while the closest rivals, Antwerp Diamonds, will bring out the big guns, with a formidable combination: Harrie Smolders (NED) and Jos Verlooy (BEL), who train together since Jos was three years old. They will sure utilise all their knowledge of each others’ strengths to fight for the lead. Harrie will try to use all his knowledge of the Dutch team too against the Monaco Aces, represented by his fellow countrymen Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) and Leopold van Asten (NED).

Home team Rome Gladiators will present the GCL Madrid winning combination of Laura Kraut (USA) and Laura Renwick (GBR), both ready to raise cheers from the local crowd as the battle plays out in the natural amphitheatre of Stadio dei Marmi.

Paris Jets will see Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) provide the anchor for the team once more, with new team member, Olympic 2012 Bronze Medallist Kamal Bahamdan (KSA). Marco Kutscher (GER) alongside young star Kevin Jochems (NED), will be riding for the Cannes Stars, as the new to the League rider Samantha McIntosh (NZL) will be on the arena for the Shanghai Swans alongside young talent Alexandra Thornton (GBR). Latest addition, Alberto Zorzi (ITA) is in the battle for the Madrid in Motion, trying his best to repeat his win in Valkenswaard, this time teaming up with fellow young rider Gonzalo Anon Suarez (SPA).

Doha Fursan Qatar will see two of its Olympic team in action with Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) and Faleh Al Ajami (QAT) while Miami Glory will field young star Jessica Mendoza (GBR), with the U25 talent teaming up with Kimberly Prince (USA). An all-German team for the Cascais Charms who welcome back David Will (GER) competing with compatriot Philip Houston (GER). Finally Danielle Goldstein (ISR) and Paris Sellon (USA) will be fighting for the Vienna Eagles.