Selected by Elite chef d’équipe Peter van der Waaij and Young Riders and Juniors chef d’équipe Gianluca Agustoni, with the aid of the organisers, Switzerland’s official team for the CHI Geneva comprises a total of 17 riders for the CHI 5* events (Big and Medium Tours) and 12 talented youngsters who will take part in the three competitions for U-25 riders.
Should he regain full fitness in time, Steve Guerdat will hopefully join Martin Fuchs at the head of a high-class Swiss team. Featuring alongside the two jumping icons are Édouard Schmitz (Geneva), the Jura trio of Alain Jufer, Anthony Bourquard and the 20-year-old Gaëtan Joliat – an initial wild card who earned selection on the back of some fine results – and Janika Sprunger (Basel). The four riders to receive wild cards, among them Jean-Maurice Brahier (Fribourg), will all take part in the Medium Tour events, as will Bryan Balsiger (Neuchâtel), the recipient of a special invitation.
The 12 U-25 riders selected include Swiss Young Rider champion Noah Keller (Fribourg), who also won bronze at the Elite Swiss Championships, and national junior champion Margault Blanchard (Vaud). Several members of the team have graced the Palexpo arena in recent years, among them Léon Pieyre, Thibaut Keller and Lou Puch.
Official Switzerland team for the CHI Geneva
Grand Tour
Steve Guerdat
Martin Fuchs
Anthony Bourquard
Romain Duguet
Gaëtan Joliat
Alain Jufer
Édouard Schmitz
Barbara Schnieper
Pius Schwizer
Jason Smith
Janika Sprunger
Géraldine Straumann
Medium Tour
Bryan Balsiger
Jean-Maurice Brahier
Franck Goubard
Guillaume Gillioz
Christian Tardy
U25 / Jeunes Cavaliers / Juniors
Riana Aebersold
Thibaut Keller
Gilles Müller
Léon Pieyre
Célia Biasi
Noah Keller
Bryan Smits
Laura André
Margault Blanchard
Lou Puch
Charlotte Van Wesel (wild card Chevenez)
Janick Widmer (wild card Dielsdorf)
