The rider, sixth in the World Ranking,was the only one capable of resisting the pressure and surpassing the time of his compatriot Leopold van Asten. Van der Vleuten was gold at the last World Equestrian Games, and this year he won the Grand Prix at the stage of the World Cup in Verona.
The Dutchman, riding Salomon, stopped the clock in 34.65 seconds without any penalty. The podium was completed by Leopold van Asten and VDL Groep Miss Untouchable with 35.82 seconds and the German rider Ludger Beerbaum, who, riding to Chiara, made a time of 36.62 seconds.
Maikel van der Vleuten said that “I always try to do as much as I can for my own feeling, if I know I can't beat the time, I know I shouldn't give it a try. But the first round, I had a good feeling so for the second round the horse gave me a good feeling and that I should go for it”. Also, the rider declares that “It's a very good organization, and they have a really good course designer. It's a great spot to be with the other entire top rider”. About the Grand Prix he thinks “there will be a good level and then I'm looking forward to the World Cup on Sunday and I think we are going to see great sport with great riders“. Marta Ortega gave him the trophy, accompanied by Massimo Dutti's communication manager, Eva Bautista.
On its behalf, in the Spanish participation, Álvarez Aznar added for the second time today a fourth place in this first day of the International Jumping Competition 5* A Coruña. Only 10 pairs of the total of 44 participants qualified for the tiebreak, in the most difficult test of the day.
Julien Epaillard in the podium of Casas Novas again
Julien Epaillard had the honor to win the first test of the CSI5* this Casas Novas edition stopping the clock in 64.30 seconds riding Instit de Jucaso. The Frenchman already knows how to win in Casas Novas, with two victories in the Grand Prix in 2006 and 2015. The rider did a brilliant competition and the second classified was three seconds later than him. Epaillard arrived to Casas Novas after winning last week the Longines Speed Challenge in Paris.
The podium was completed by Dutch Jur Vrieling with Dallas VDL in 67.82 second and the British horsewoman Laura Renwick riding Vdl Groep Alitta in 68.18 seconds.
The CSI5 * began at the afternoon in Casas Novas with maximum expectation. Local audience did not want to missed it and started to full the stands to see more than fifty binomials. The course was designed by the track manager Santiago Varela and had 17 obstacles. The test, which was celebrated in the scale fault and time with obstacles of 1.45 meters, was very demanding for the participants.
Spanish triumph in one of the CSI2* competitions
With a very good assistance in the stands of the equestrian center, the Spanish rider Alberto Márquez Galobardes take the victory in the second competition of the CSI2*, the Marqués de Riscal Trophy. It was the first triumph in the weekend of a local rider.
The rider left at the end of the competition but was very focused and talented to score a time of 27,89 sec with Volt de Kergane. Márquez was very happy for his victory and said “I did my best and I could beat Leopoldo”. The horseman had hope to make a good Gran Prix and start her first Casas Novas winter edition with a great victory. The rider from Aranjuez did a few weeks ago a good performance at the Madrid Horse Week, previous stage of the World Cup.
He was accompanied on the podium by Leonardo Medal García, who stopped the clock at 27.97 sec. Medal is also a horse breeder and her horse, Rey de Gozón, is doing a great year with several victories. The third was Ignace Philips, with 28.02 seconds riding Izmir van de Baeyenne.