Basel, first World Cup stop of the year

For the very first time, Basel is hosting a leg of the Longines Jumping World Cup. For many years, the city was the theater of CSI 5* but this time the organization accepted to join the World Cup circuit. The show promises to be intense as many greats riders figure in the starting list. Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs will have to defend his title. With his wonderful Clooney with whom he won a silver medal at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon last summer, he will also have to fight against his compatriot Steve Guerdat. World number one, he is also the leader of the Longines Jumping World Cup’s ranking. The spectacle is guaranteed as he chose to bring his amazing Bianca to Basel.

Eighteen riders from Europe can earn a spot for the next spring’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden, with a victory worth 20 points and 40 points usually enough to qualify. For now, eight riders have already reached or passed the 40-point threshold: Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat with 58 points, German’s Daniel Deusser with 51 points, France’s Kevin Staut with also 51 points, Belgium’s Pieter Devos with 49 points, the Australian Edwina Tops-Alexander with 47 points, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann with 46 points, Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts with 41 points Sweden’s Peder Fredericson with 40 points. Six of these top riders will compete this week-end, which will increase the difficulty for the athletes that are not certain to be qualified for the final yet like Ludger Beerbaum, Gudrun Patteet, Martin Fuchs, Max Kühner, Olivier Robert, Niels Bruynseels or Hans-Dieter Dreher.

Only two riders will represent Great Britain this week-end in Basel: Laura Renwick and the legendary Michael Whitaker. William Whitaker and Utamaro d’Ecaussines, winners of the eighth leg of Longines Jumping World Cup in London in December will not compete in Basel despite their 24th position in the ranking.

To know the winner of this first Longines Jumping World Cup’s leg of 2019, spectators will have to wait until Sunday 13th afternoon for the Grand Prix.

Starting list : here

Longines Jumping World Cup’s ranking : here