New leader to challenge as World Cup League heads to Stuttgart

After his win at the Las Vegas National last weekend, the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders has taken over the lead from Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat.

Olympic champion Guerdat had topped the overall league standings after his win in the second qualifying event in Helsinki and then remained there after the third and fourth events in Lyon and Verona respectively.

However success in the USA for Smolders sees him lead the chasing pack albeit by a margin of only five points as the FEI World Cup Western European League returns to action in Germany.

Yet with the Dutchman not due to compete in Stuttgart, there is every chance his stay at the top will be a short one with Guerdat primed to regain pole position, and he will be backed in his quest by fellow Swiss riders Martin Fuchs – currently placed in fifth spot in the overall league standings, and Pius Schwizer.

Despite the absence of Smolders, the Netherlands will be strongly represented with double World Champion, Jeroen Dubbeldam, Gerco Schroder and Maikel van der Vleuten all competing.

A typically strong home German contingent will be fronted by the reigning Longines FEI World Cup Jumping champion, Daniel Deusser, who will be joined by among others Ludger Beerbaum – who so narrowly missed out on LGCT success last weekend in Qatar, Marcus Ehning, Hans-Dieter Dreher and Marco Kutscher.

Ireland’s Bertram Allen will be hoping to repeat his winning effort in Verona last time out and will be joined by Shane Breen and Cameron Hanley, whilst Great Britain will be represented by Spencer Rose, Michael Whitaker and William Whitaker.

Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson will also be looking to emulate his recent fine form which saw him win the LGCT Grand Prix of Doha last weekend, even if he did agonisingly miss out on the overall Championship to the World number one, Scott Brash. Bengtsson will be joined by Henrik von Eckermann, whilst another rider who shone in Doha, Portugal’s Luciana Diniz will also be looking to go one better and make the top of the podium.

France will field a strong line-up with Roger Yves Bost – winner in Lyon and currently in 10th position on the standings, Patrice Delaveau, Simon Dellestre and Kevin Staut – currently in fourth spot, all competing.

The USA are set to field Reed Kessler – currently occupying sixth place, Lucy Davis and Laura Kraut, with the likes of Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and Brazil’s Doda de Miranda also set to challenge any European dominance.