Ultimately, 10 combinations qualified for the jump-off. No one could beat Richard Vogel's time with United Touch S (untouched). It seemed for a moment that Gregory Wathelet, the winner of the World Cup in Oslo, would score a second win.
However, in the end, Richard Vogel with United Touch S (Untouched) recorded the fastest time. “I had a very good feeling in the first round," Vogel said. "The jump-off was very exciting. It was not easy to leave out strides, so I had to tighten the turns. It’s my first time in Lyon and certainly not the last! The atmosphere is incredible, the public really supports us. The Longines FEI World Cup Final will be one of my goals for the season."
The German rider was a few tenths of a second faster than Harrie Smolders and the 15-year-old Monaco N.O.P. (Cassini II). Vogel and the stallion, bred by Julius-Peter Sinnack, thus won the third World Cup leg of the Western European League.
Harrie Smolders followed with the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Monaco N.O.P. (Cassini II), ahead of Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and the 13-year-old BWP gelding, Legend (Ogano Sitte, bred by Jonas Boone).
Just outside the top three, Julien Anquetin finished in fourth place in front of his home crowd. Anquetin and Blood Diamond du Pont (Diamant de Semilly) were followed by Gregory Wathelet and the 13-year-old stallion, Bond Jamesbond de Hay (Diamant de Semilly). For Belgium, Pieter Devos also claimed a prize. Devos was the last to start and eventually finished seventh with his own bred Zangersheide mare, Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky).
However, in the end, Richard Vogel with United Touch S (Untouched) recorded the fastest time. “I had a very good feeling in the first round," Vogel said. "The jump-off was very exciting. It was not easy to leave out strides, so I had to tighten the turns. It’s my first time in Lyon and certainly not the last! The atmosphere is incredible, the public really supports us. The Longines FEI World Cup Final will be one of my goals for the season."
The German rider was a few tenths of a second faster than Harrie Smolders and the 15-year-old Monaco N.O.P. (Cassini II). Vogel and the stallion, bred by Julius-Peter Sinnack, thus won the third World Cup leg of the Western European League.
Harrie Smolders followed with the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Monaco N.O.P. (Cassini II), ahead of Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and the 13-year-old BWP gelding, Legend (Ogano Sitte, bred by Jonas Boone).
Just outside the top three, Julien Anquetin finished in fourth place in front of his home crowd. Anquetin and Blood Diamond du Pont (Diamant de Semilly) were followed by Gregory Wathelet and the 13-year-old stallion, Bond Jamesbond de Hay (Diamant de Semilly). For Belgium, Pieter Devos also claimed a prize. Devos was the last to start and eventually finished seventh with his own bred Zangersheide mare, Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky).