Hans-Dieter Dreher missed out on home victory at the World Cup equestrian tournament in Leipzig and had to settle for third place. The 52-year-old rider from Eimeldingen stayed clear in the jump-off with his horse Elysium, but rode too slowly. "I'm still happy," said Dreher: "That was the fastest jump-off with him so far."
The victory in the Grand Prix, which offered prize money of 200,000 euros and points for the World Cup series, went to Willem Greve. The Dutchman prevailed in the saddle of Highway and celebrated the first World Cup victory of his career. He was also faster than the Frenchman Simon Delestre with Fontenis.
Six local pairs reached the jump-off, but it was still not enough to win. There had already been five German victories in the ten stages before Leipzig. Richard Vogel won in Lyon and Stuttgart, his girlfriend Sophie Hinners in Verona, Philipp Weishaupt in A Coruña and Dreher in Mechelen.
Vogel and Dreher have secured their Basel ticket
The guests also shone in the other important jumping competitions in Leipzig. The most important jumping competition on Saturday was won by Brazil's Yuri Mansur, who prevailed in the Leipzig Championships with his horse Vitiki. Swiss rider Steve Guerdat won the World Cup qualifier with Looping Luna.
After eleven of 14 stops, French rider Kevin Staut leads the World Cup rankings and is therefore just as certain of qualifying for the final tournament in Basel at the beginning of April as Dreher. The veteran is now the best German in second place. Vogel has also secured his Basel ticket.
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