Daniel Deusser’s Daring Ride Tops the €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule CSIO 5*

By Jumper News on 2025-06-08

La Baule, France – June 08, 2025 – German rider Daniel Deusser (GER) won the €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule CSIO 5*, the grade finale of four exceptional days of spectacular sport at the Jumping International de La Baule CSIO 5*– Officiel de France, beating Colombian Rene Lopez Lizarazo (COL) and many times medallist American Mclain Ward (USA).

Once again the crowded stands at the François André stadium were buzzing up to the last minute and the last passage of the eight riders contesting the ride-off on the €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule, an incredibly competitive event with seven of the world’s top ten and nine Olympic Gold medallists in the field of 50 riders.

**Daniel Deusser** (GER) & **Otello de Guldenboom**

When German Daniel Deusser (GER) took to the tracks on Otello de Guldenboom, an 11-year-old BWP stallion, Colombian Rene Lopez Lizarazo (COL), on his mare Londina, had just achieved the best time of 38’’36. The 61-year-old, who has been living in the Lorraine region of France for more than thirty years, was on the point of accomplishing the greatest victory of his career.

However, Deusser, who has previously been world number one several times (and is currently No. 16), who won the World Cup final in 2014 and who has long been a pillar of the German team, once again rode a very smooth round to shave more than a second off the best time, to write his name on the role of honour for the Rolex Series, a circuit which brings together the seven leading riding events in the world. In so doing, he succeeded American Kent Farrington (USA).

“To be honest, I did not watch Rene’s ride-off,” explained the winner. “I was lucky enough to start the ride-off last. I drew up my plan after having seen Mclain’s round. I knew the right amounts of strides it would take. I’m really very happy with my horse because he did exactly what I wanted him to do. It’s a great day for me. Stephan Conter bought this horse three years ago because he was convinced about his potential. He had already won events but never at this level. It’s his first victory in a 5-star grand prix and all the team is very proud of it”. – Daniel Deusser (GER)

**Rene Lopez Lizarazo** (COL) & **Londina**

The most French of Colombian riders finished in second place and was also very happy. “I have to admit that I prayed a lot for Daniel to knock off a bar,” he chuckled. “Seriously though, very well done to Daniel. I’m genuinely very happy with this mare, who just doesn’t stop making progress. For so many years, I’ve always received a warm welcome in La Baule, even when I wasn’t achieving good results. It’s almost a second home to me. It’s really heart-warming”. – Rene Lopez (COL)

Satisfaction was also the watchword for world number five and team Olympic Champion in 2004 and 2008, Mclain Ward (USA), who finished third on Imperial HBF, the former horse of Tim Gredley. “I could have perhaps gained several tenths of a second but Daniel was too good today,” he explained. “I haven’t been riding Imperial for that long – it was just our third competition together. He’s shown that he is capable of great results, such as at the Nations Cup in Rome with a double clear round. As a result, this podium finish is a great joy, especially here in La Baule at a wonderful competition in front of outstanding crowds”.

The French clan was unable to put any of its ten duos into the ride-off and has therefore not yet found a successor to Nicolas Delmotte, the last Gallic winner, in 2021. World number nine Kevin Staut was the best placed French rider today, in tenth place.