Bordeaux, France – January 29, 2024 – National coach Édouard Coupérie (FRA) promised a strong French team, and he delivered with an impressive selection of ten riders. These include the defending Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ champion, three Olympic champions – including two former individual European champions and three riders competing for a place in the Fort Worth final in April. However, points will be hard to win by in Bordeaux, as the foreign competition will be fierce.

Let’s start with the defending champion in Bordeaux: Martin Fuchs (SUI) will be there to try to retain his title. The former Swiss world champion will be joined by Alain Jufer (SUI), who came second in the World Cup in Verona. While the two Swiss riders have practically secured their place in Fort Worth, they will still be coming to Nouvelle-Aquitaine to gain the points needed to guarantee their participation in the final.

Belgium will also field two big names: Pieter Devos (BEL), the 2018 Bordeaux winner and runner-up last year, and the reigning European team champion. He will be joined by his teammate Jérôme Guéry (BEL), with whom he won the historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. However, Devos and Guéry are not in contention for Texas; only a victory in Bordeaux could put them back on track. Meanwhile, their compatriot Jordy Van Massenhove  (BEL) is in a better position and is only a few points away from qualifying, so he will accompany them to Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Germany will be represented by Daniel Deusser (GER), the 2014 World Cup winner, 2016 Olympic team bronze medallist and 2019 Bordeaux winner, who will be joined by an Olympic champion in eventing. However, Michael Jung (GER) has raised his game in show jumping as he takes on the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping this time. However, he is unlikely to be aiming for the final, as he has not competed in many legs this season. In fact, he has only competed in one: last weekend in Leipzig, where he finished sixth – a remarkable achievement that he will want to repeat in Bordeaux. We will, of course, also see him in the Devoucoux Derby, where he will attempt to reclaim the title from Karim Laghouag. 

Ireland will be well represented with Denis Lynch (IRL), who is loyal to Bordeaux, and Jessica Burke (IRL), a former maths teacher, Grand Prix winner, and third in the Audi Grand Prix in Bordeaux in 2024. Austria will also be well represented with Max Kühner (AUT), a European bronze medallist who has already qualified for the Fort Worth final after winning in London last December.

We will once again see the famous yellow jacket of Brazilian Olympic rider Yuri Mansur (ITA), who has a very successful career – eleven international victories in 2025 – and who came fifth in last year’s AUDI Grand Prix on this arena in Bordeaux.

Challenges for the French

It’s certainly not going to be easy for the French team. France’s number one, Julien Épaillard (FRA), has decided to rest Donatello d’Auge in favour of Easy Up de Grandry. Although Easy Up de Grandry is certainly not a beginner – he won six international victories in his first season with the Norman rider in 2025, and finished second in the World Cup in Lyon last November. Although Kevin Staut (FRA) has already qualified for the final in Texas, he is still planning to win in Bordeaux, whatever the situation. He will try his luck with either the excellent Vida Loca Z or his faithful Viking D’la Rousseries. Pénélope Leprevost (FRA) will need to pick up a few points with Baloubet de Talma. Unless she solves the problem this weekend in Amsterdam. They will be joined by Marc Dilasser, who is close to qualifying; Julien Anquetin (FRA); Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), a crowd favourite; and Olivier Robert (FRA), who needs to finish first or second. Also competing will be François-Xavier Boudant (FRA) and Marie Demonte (FRA).

The Bordeaux International Show Jumping Competition will bring together the world’s equestrian elite for three major disciplines and a highly anticipated new addition: dressage. With such a packed international line-up, the event confirms its status as a major stop on the world circuit. Olympic medallists, crucial sporting challenges and a diversity of disciplines: four days offering one of the world’s best audiences a concentration of equestrian excellence, combining top-level sport, spectacle and a passion for horses.

Source: Press Release (edited) from Agence R&B Presse for Jumping International de Bordeaux

Photo: © Jumping International de Bordeaux

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