The Olympic Magic Begins in Bordeaux!

By Jumper News on 2024-01-24

Bordeaux, France – January 24, 2024 –The line-up of riders competing at the Jumping International de Bordeaux never disappoints! This year is no exception to the tradition, with Olympic medallists and preselected riders, FEI Longines World Cup contenders – and former winners – championship medallists and many more in the line-up from 1 to 4 February. The same goes for indoor cross-country: Olympic champions and preselected riders. As far as the drivers are concerned, it goes without saying that the best will be there, as Bordeaux is the venue for the World Cup final.

World number one and reigning World Champion Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), who was third in Bordeaux last year is automatically qualified for the World Cup final with his victory in last year’s final in Omaha, would not miss the unique atmosphere of Bordeaux for anything. He will be up against some of the biggest names in the sport, including London Olympic champion (2012), reigning European champion, three-time World Cup winner (2015, 2016, 2019) and winner of the Bordeaux stage in 2020, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (SUI). He will be joined by some very performative riders, such as Belgium’s Pieter Devos (BEL), who won the FEI Longines World Cup in Basel two weeks ago with his ‘old’ 17-year-old Toupie de la Roque, and who is also familiar with the taste of victory in Bordeaux, having triumphed in 2018 with L’Espoir.

This is also the case for Germany’s Daniel Deusser (2019 with Tobago Z), as well as the French riders Julien Épaillard (2017) and Kevin Staut (2012 and 2016), both already qualified for the final in Riyad. Julien Épaillard will be bringing his two best horses, Dubai du Cèdre and Donatello d’Auge: a serious favourite! The same goes for Harry Charles from Great Britain and Max Kühner from Austria, who will also travel to France. Roger-Yves Bost, also a former winner in Bordeaux (1990 and 1992), wouldn’t miss this competition for the world, even though he’s in the Olympic draw this year instead of the World Cup.

Great Britain’s Scott Brash (GBR) is also one of the stars of the circuit. The London Olympic team gold medallist (2012) is the only rider in the world to have won the Grand Slam (three consecutive victories in Geneva, Aachen and Calgary in 2015, a highlight in the history of the sport). He will be joined by one of the favourites of the Bordeaux crowd, Germany’s Marcus Ehning (GER), who has won the World Cup in Bordeaux twice, not to mention his Grand Prix victories. Another German star, Christian Ahlmann (GER), victorious in Mechelen last December, will come to Bordeaux to gain a few more points to secure his ticket for the finale.

On the women’s side (still a hot topic in Bordeaux, where no female rider has ever won the World Cup Grand Prix), the Austrian rider Katharina Rhomberg (AUT), team bronze medallist at the recent European Championships in Milan, and of course the French rider Pénélope Leprévost (FRA), who has been pre-selected for the Olympic Games, are worth keeping an eye on… Or perhaps the regional contender, the young Toulouse rider Jeanne Sadran (FRA).

Devoucoux Indoor Derby: Three Olympic Riders and the Champion!

Maxime Livio (FRA), Astier Nicolas (FRA) and Karim Laghouag (FRA), who are on the “long list” for Paris 2024, will lead the French selection of fourteen riders for the Devoucoux Indoor Derby, while German multiple medallist Meister Michael Jung (GER) will lead the foreign delegation along with Dutch rider Janneke Boonzaaijer (NED), British rider David Doel (GBR), Spaniard Albert Hermoso Farràs (ESP) and Swede Sofia Sjoborg (SWE).

Driving will once again be a battle between Australian Boyd Exell, who lives in the Netherlands, and Dutchman Bram Chardon, with the latter’s father, Ijsbrand, and German Michael Brauchle, Belgian Dries Degriek and Dutch Koos De Rone as judges. The Australian driver will be seeking his tenth title, including his sixth in Bordeaux.

Source: Press Release from Agence R&B Presse for Jumping Bordeaux

Photos: © Jumping Bordeaux / Artiste Associé