Lyon, France – October 31, 2024 – Winners from all the medal categories from the recent Paris 2024 Olympic Games, whether they took home gold, silver, bronze, individual or team will be represented in the ring at Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International from October 30 to November 3. No fewer than seven riders who won medals in Versailles this summer will be performing in Eurexpo’s ring for the Western European League Longines FEI Jumping World Cup’s third leg.

Among them will be German rider and individual gold medallist Christian Kukuk (GER) and all the members of the French team who won the bronze medal: Simon Delestre, Julien Epaillard and Olivier Perreau. An exceptional line-up, with seven of the world’s top ten riders taking part in what has become an unmissable event in Lyon.

Star riders who won medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, experienced champions who rank among the best in the Longines World Rankings, and a young up-and-coming generation keen to establish themselves among the elite. It’s a dream field for a show that will boast some superb sport and competitions.

Germany’s Christian Kukuk, the reigning Olympic champion and winner of the Longines League of Nations™ in Barcelona with his team mates, isn’t afraid to talk about his goals: ‘Until I win an FEI World Cup Final, it will stay on my to-do list.’ A goal that the German champion, who is often compared to Ludger Beerbaum, is determined to achieve quickly.

Despite his impressive success in recent months, his rivals intend to give him a run for his money. He is likely to come up against Steve Guerdat, the individual silver medallist in Versailles and the 2012 Olympic Champion in London along the way. A regular at the Lyon event, the Swiss rider, who is currently World No.2, is hoping to make up the number of points that separate him from the indisputable Swedish rider, Henrik von Eckermann, who has been World number one for over two years now. A win in Lyon would take him one step closer to his goal.

BELGIUM’S GREGORY WATHELET: AIMING FOR TWO IN A ROW?
And in his bid to conquer the World number one spot, Great Britain’s Ben Maher, currently third in the rankings, is certainly not going to let his chance slip through his fingers either. He was successful in Lyon in 2023, finishing third in the Longines FEI World Cup™ leg. This year, he will be in the ring in Lyon alongside his fellow countryman Scott Brash, with whom he won the team gold medal in Versailles this summer.

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, who is used to winning at Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International, where he has already had three victories in a row in the Longines FEI World Cup™leg, will be looking to notch up a fourth victory. Austria’s Max Kuhner is another contender for victory in Lyon. He is in seventh place in the World Rankings, and will also be up against the winner of the 2023 edition, Gregory Wathelet. The Belgian rider is off to a good start to the indoor season, having already won the first leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ in Oslo. And Bourg-en-Bresse’s Julien Gonin also jumped very well in the Norwegian leg, finishing in third place with Valou du Lys. The rider hopes they will be able to repeat their performance in front of his home crowd in Lyon.

DELESTRE, EPAILLARD AND PERREAU: THE FRENCH TEAM BRONZE MEDALLISTS IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME CROWD
France will also be well represented, with 23 French riders taking part in the CSI5*- W in Lyon, including Simon Delestre, Julien Epaillard and Olivier Perreau. The three riders, who won the team bronze medal in Paris and were supported and cheered on by the whole of France in Versailles, are hoping to shine again in Lyon, in front of a very enthusiastic home crowd. Could this be their chance to shine individually? ‘For two years I was focusing on the European Championships, and then there were the Olympic Games. I was more interested in the team approach, which I particularly like and which I hope to be able to continue next year. But it’s true that now I also want to win Grands Prix. I almost achieved that in Barcelona, with a rail down in the jump-off. But I hope I’ll have a win very soon, ‘explains Olivier Perreau, who comes from Loire and is the GL events group partner rider. And what if he were to win in Lyon?

Source: Press Release by Eloise Lepine for Longines Equita Lyon

Photo: © FEI / Leanjo de Koster

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