Despite the fact that the competition was at a standstill for a large part of the year, some riders managed to leave a lasting impression again this year. We selected the best five riders of 2020.
STEVE GUERDAT
Steve Guerdat led the Longines Ranking throughout 2020. The number one in the world recently jumped to victories in the 1m50 in Riesenbeck, he won the Grand Prix of Gorla Minore, he won in Saint-Tropez and had time in between to expand his family. He told our editors that he didn't mind the lockdown and with a baby on the way, 2021 looks very good for him as well!
DANIEL DEUSSER
Daniel Deusser got off to a very good start in 2020 by winning the Doha Grand Prix. He counted on Killer Queen, with whom he also won the World Cup of Mechelen in 2019. Afterwards he said that according to him, Killer Queen really is a horse for the future. He also closed 2020 well by winning the World Cup of Riyadh and jumping to second place in the Grand Prix.
JOS VERLOOY
Jos Verlooy jumped this year for the second year in a row to the Belgian title in Lanaken. With this he equalled a 46 year old record. It is more than 45 years ago that a rider could become Belgian champion two years in a row with the same horse. The last to succeed was Patrick Rongé with White City in 1973 and 1974. In addition, he has been leading the U25 ranking for over a year and he jumped on the podium in the World Cup of Riyadh.
MAIKEL VAN DER VLEUTEN
After the first lockdown the Dutchman started as a spear by winning the Grand Prix twice in Hubside. Because of this the Dutchman made a nice jump on the world ranking list. Normally Van der Vleuten would officially say goodbye to his former top horse Verdi in Den Bosch, but the Coronavirus threw a spanner in the works.
JULIEN EPAILLARD
This year there was one man to beat when it came to speed; Julien Epaillard. Saint-Tropez, Opglabbeek, Lier, ... When driving against the clock, Julien Epaillard was almost always on the highest podium step. He ends 2020 with a top twenty ranking in the Longines Ranking.