Lyon, France – October 28, 2025 – The countdown has begun. Riders and drivers are honing their techniques and strategies are taking shape. It’s time to get down to business.
From 29th October to 2nd November, 2025, Eurexpo’s international arena will host the Lyon leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™, the highlight of Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International. In Lyon, everything moves fast. The pace is on from the first stride, riders master tight turns and speed is redefined. For more than ten years, the leg in Lyon has been a cornerstone of the world circuit, where top riders affirm their status, emerging
talent makes its mark, and the next generation steps into the spotlight.
For five days, the international arena of Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International, becomes the heartbeat of world show jumping, where fierce competition goes hand-in-hand with pure, raw emotion. The 2024 edition of the event illustrated this perfectly.
Is a Rematch on the Cards?
Last year, Richard Vogel (GER), riding the incredible United Touch S, won in front of a spellbound Lyon audience following an epic jump-off. Five riders finished within the same second – a remarkable feat! An electrifying instant, caught in the fragile balance between silence and thunderous applause. This year again, the pressure promises to be as intense as the stakes. The German rider who was recently crowned European individual champion, is coming back to Lyon this year to defend his title. But the competition will be fierce.
Belgium’s Grégory Wathelet (BEL), who finished fifth last year in this incredible event, is back and is determined to settle the score. The ring in Lyon definitely suits him well: he already won the leg in 2023 and is set on triumphing again at Eurexpo in 2025.
But he will also have to contend with Sanne Thijssen (NED), the recent winner of the opening leg of the 2025 Longines FEI World Cup™ in Oslo. Riding her mare Cupcake, the Dutch rider took the win in commanding style, in a dazzling jump-off, finishing two seconds faster than the other riders competing. She could well repeat the performance in Lyon. Other big names are fine-tuning their skills and determining their goals.
These include Ben Maher (GBR), World number two and Olympic team champion in Versailles, and the experienced Christian Ahlmann (GER), who never bows to second place. Experience could well play a decisive role at this show, with its demanding courses designed by French course designer.
Grégory Bodo. Swiss rider Martin Fuchs (SUI) knows this all too well, having already won this Longines FEI World Cup™ leg three times in a row. An absolute record! As for the French riders, Julien Épaillard (FRA), who won the Longines FEI World Cup™ Final in Basel in the spring, is coming back to a ring he knows like the back of his hand. With his speed, instinct, and fearlessness, he is set for an unforgettable performance once again. Kevin Staut is also a regular in Lyon, where he has consistently delivered lightning-fast rounds.
Up against these seasoned champions, the next generation of riders is rising to the occasion. Beyond the competition, the Lyon show is about passing on wisdom and experience. The rising stars of French show jumping are confident and ready to make their mark: Jeanne Sadran (FRA) and Antoine Ermann (FRA), once hopeful newcomers, have grown into consistent, accomplished competitors, who are now at home among the world’s best riders. Now regulars on the podiums at prestigious international shows, they personify a new generation which is ambitious, and unfazed by pressure. One that is set on seizing the spotlight and continuing to shine among the international elite.
What if a woman Claimed the top Spot?
Since 2009, only two female riders have added their names to the winners’ list, including Pénélope Leprévost (FRA)who in 2025, has marked her return among the best riders. After finishing third at the French FFE Master Pro Elite Championships in April, she’s eager to make a strong comeback on the Longines FEI World Cup™ circuit. But other contenders are equally determined to prove that women can claim the top spot, such as Sweden’s Wilma Hellström, America’s Eve Jobs (USA) and Liechtenstein’s Jennifer Hochstadter (LIE).
Riders who are eager to shine where it matters most: in their region. What if local riders such as Olivier Perreau (FRA) from Loire, team bronze medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, stole the show? He knows what is at stake and is at home at the Lyon show. Mégane Moissonnier (FRA) from Ain, the winner of this year’s CSI4* Grand Prix in Bourg-en-Bresse and fourth in the CSIO5* Grand Prix in Barcelona, could find luck on her side again, returning to the show in Lyon where she has already enjoyed success and to fans that adore her.
Then comes the moment when emotion takes the stage. Philippe Rozier (FRA), the Laiterie de Montaigu rider and a regular at Equita Lyon, will be competing in his last five-star show as a rider in Lyon. The Olympic team champion in Rio will close a chapter of high-level competition here, to the heartfelt applause of spectators, for every excellent performance he’s shared with them.
Top-level sport and intense emotions: Longines Equita Lyon International Horse Show, Concours Hippique International is a lot more than a single FEI World Cup™ leg. It’s a signature event, showcasing sport that is lived to the full, and makes the heart of world show jumping enthusiasts skip a beat, every autumn.
Source: Press Release by Eloise Lepine for Longines Equita Lyon
Photo: © PSV Photo / J Morel
