Jumping de Bordeaux is set to return with a bang
Three years after its last edition, the International Jumping de Bordeaux finally returns from February 2 to 5, 2023. As always, this historic round of the Longines World Cup will bring together only the cream of European show jumping. Indeed, the Aquitaine event will host the final of the World Cup of Driving and will now be reunited with the traditional indoor Devoucoux.
For half a century, the world’s best riders have rarely missed the Bordeaux International Jumping event, and this fiftieth anniversary edition will not escape the tradition. The field promises to be incredible and will be led by Henrik von Eckermann, world number one, Olympic team champion, two-time world champion and… leader of the Western European Longines league with at least eighty-eight points. A win in Bordeaux is an important line on a rider’s or rider’s prize list. There will be many this year to follow Steve Gerdat, the last winner of the World Cup Grand Prix with Victorio des Frotards in 2020. Along with the insatiable Swede, the other inhabitants of the world’s top ten starting with number three are Julien Épaillard, winner of the 2017 World Cup with Quatrin de la Roque*LM and the last Sunday’s Grand Prix in 2020. Queeletta or number four, Dutchman Harrie Smolders, vice world team champion.
Julien Épaillard is not the only Frenchman in great form at the moment. The Bordeaux community will find another Norman, Kevin Staut, winner of the World Cup in Bordeaux with Silvana*HDC in 2012 and Rêveur de Hurtebise*HDC in 2016, and Simon Delestre of Lorrain, ranked eleventh and twelfth in the world. All three almost qualified for the World Cup finals scheduled to be held in Omaha, USA on April 4-8. Pénélope Leprevost will also arrive in Bordeaux in high form with her victory in last Thursday’s CSI 5*-W in Basel, where she produced a very good performance in the World Cup, with a penalty point on her rider Bingo del Tondou. again in Bordeaux. The very popular Roger Yves-Bost, double winner of the queen event on Saturday evening, will also be part of the evening.
The stars are in trouble
As always, there will be a great German delegation in Bordeaux, consisting of three former world number ones: the public’s darling Marcus Ehning, Christian Ahlmann and Daniel Deusser with Michael Jung and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann with Lambrasco, remembered for the incredible victory in Aachen in 2011, lifted both arms at the final hurdle and won the World Cup stage over Messi van’t Ruytershof in La Coruña in December. Will she be the first woman to win “Finally” in Bordeaux? On the Belgian side, we note, among others, the commitment of 2018 Gironde winner and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Pieter Devos.
With Daniel Deusser, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli of Brazil and Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands, who won an individual bronze medal in Tokyo, a total of six athletes from the world’s top ten at the world championships in Herning will participate in Bordeaux. The last two named are looking for points to qualify for the finals, as are other major champions such as Dutchman Harry Smolders, Swiss Steve Guerdat or British Scott Brash. The penultimate Gironde round in the Western European league promises to be one of the most controversial.
Boyd Exell must get his revenge
The final of the World Cup of Driving will be equally beautiful. Boyd Exell will be trying to win his tenth title in this competition, but he will have to face the Chardon father and son coalition, the two leaders who have tickled him the most this winter! Last year in Leipzig, an Australian living in the Netherlands stung his son Bram, but dad IJsbrand is never far away. The Frenchman Benjamin Aillaud, who tried his luck in the qualifying round reserved for the top ten in the world, came very close to the qualifying round. But thanks to an invitation, he will be in Bordeaux to defend the colors of France. We will know the final list of finalists at the end of the Leipzig round, this Sunday.
Boyd Exell will be in Bordeaux seeking revenge on Bram Chardon, who beat him in last year’s world championship final in Leipzig.
© DR
Michael Jung is back at the Exhibition Center
Maxime Livio could decide between Michael Jung and Karim Laghouag in Bordeaux after their brilliant victories in Stockholm and Geneva.
© Solenn Rispail
The return of the Devoucoux Indoor Derby promises a crazy atmosphere, similar to the last editions of the Aquitaine tour, where riders such as the German Emperor Michael Jung will also participate in the Jumping. Will there be someone to manage the traditional duel with Karim Lagouag this year? Maxime Livio, maybe who won in Stockholm and Geneva… ahead of Karim Laghouag? Or a foreign rider like the Irishman Cathal Daniels, who was seventh in Geneva, the young Swede Sofia Sjoborg, the disciple of Michael Jung, the Brazilian Carlos Parro, the double South American champion in Buenos Aires last year, or the Spanish Alberto Hermoso Farras?
