Verboomen Continues Winning Streak with World Cup Victory at 2025 CDI-W Lyon

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2025 CDI-W Lyon

-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Lukasz Kowalski

World number one and double European Champion Justin Verboomen (BEL) continued his winning streak with another impressive performance aboard Zonik Plus at the second leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League in Lyon (FRA) on 31 October 2025.

The Belgian athlete achieved a new personal best of 81.195% in the Grand Prix and went on to win the Freestyle with 87.075%. Britain’s Becky Moody and her home-bred Jagerbomb came very close with a brilliant, fault-free Freestyle on 85.175%, while Belgium’s Larissa Pauluis completed the podium with Flambeau on 79.560%.

A Rising Star

Justin Verboomen's meteoric rise began less than a year ago at the CDI Kronenberg indoor in December 2024. With his gorgeous black stallion Zonik Plus (by Zonik x Hohenstein), they went on to claim a breakthrough win in the Grand Prix at the CDI-W Mechelen (BEL) three weeks later. Today’s victory in a packed Eurexpo Arena marked their first World Cup Freestyle win.

Since their European Championship double gold in Crozet (FRA), Zonik Plus has shown even more harmony, softness and correctness in Lyon.

“In the Grand Prix, Zonik Plus gave me an amazing feeling, it was our best test ever," said Justin. “In the Freestyle we had a few small mistakes. The arena was suddenly full and quite warm, and Zonik Plus was a little impressed by the crowd. I tried to keep his attention on me, which led to the mistakes in the tempi changes. At home we keep working on even more suppleness, confidence and harmony.”

Belgian Strength in depth

Belgium celebrated more success as Larissa Pauluis and the Lepage family's KWPN gelding Flambeau (by Ampere x Zeoliet) finished third after a powerful and expressive test, with some mistakes in the tempi changes.

“I’m a bit disappointed with myself because of the mistakes in the Freestyle,” Pauluis admitted. “Flambeau has a lot of character and I always have to manage his emotions in the arena. But I’m still very happy with the overall result, for myself and for Belgium.”

Belgium fielded no fewer than four athletes in Lyon, all of whom finished in the top ten. Domien Michiels and Marc Steeno's Belgian bred Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof (by Gribaldi x Balzflug) produced a correct and nicely framed test to place ninth on 73.590%, where the horse could show a bit more push from behind.

Meanwhile Wim Verwimp and Eon Jin Chin's Lusitano cross-bred Jedai de Massa (by Don Juan de Hus x Galopin de la Font)) impressed with their piaffe-passage work to complete the top ten on 73.560%.

Across the board

Switzerland’s Delia Eggenberger rode a much fresher Fairtrade, who is by Fiderstep x Santino and owned by Isabelle Ros, to climb from thirteenth in the Grand Prix to seventh in the Freestyle on 75.175%. Just behind her, Luxembourg’s Fie Skarsoe and Manon Ackermann's Lusitano Imperador Dos Cedros (by Rubi) placed eighth on 73.755%.

Thamar Zweistra (NED) produced a classy test with her only nine-year-old chestnut Luxuriouzz (by Johnson x San Remo), scoring 78.220% for fifth place. Luxuriouzz has a lot of ease and linked the difficult movements fluently, although the length in the neck remains a point of attention.

Sandra Sysojeva (POL) and her 9-year old Oldenburg mare Maxima Bella (by Millennium x Christ) were unable to hold on to their third place from the Grand Prix. The energetic mare can sometimes become a little over-eager, which today led to a few moments of tension. Their 76.560% placed them sixth overall.

French Favourite Back on Form

Home favourite Pauline Basquin (FRA) delighted the Lyon audience with Sertorius de Rima Z (by Sandro Hit x Voltaire). The pair, who won the CDI-W Madrid (ESP) last year after a relentless competition season in 2024 and hardly taking a break in 2025 with almost non-stop showing (19 competitions in 22 months), had her horse back on form, taking fourth place with 78.855%.

“We had a hard time during the 2025 summer season,” said Basquin. “Now we are finding each other again. We’re coming back in shape and I’m very happy with the tests in Lyon. We’re ready for the season!”.

Moody Creeping Closer

Last to go in the Freestyle, the ever-smiling Becky Moody (GBR) and her home-bred Jagerbomb (by Dante Weltino x Jazz) charmed the crowd with their cheerful Beatles-themed performance. Their harmonious and flawless test scored 85.175%, placing them just behind Verboomen.

“I was smiling all the time! The crowd here was amazing. I’m so lucky to ride Jagerbomb," said Becky. "I always enjoy riding him. He is very consistent, has an incredible temperament and is very trainable. He makes my life easy, but you can always have a good or bad day. In the Grand Prix I was a bit frustrated with myself, not with Bomb. Today everything felt super.”

Next Stop Stuttgart

After this second leg in Lyon, Verboomen now sits ninth in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ standings, but he has not set the World Cup Finals in Forth Worth as a target, but the World Championships in Aachen as his goal of 2026. Fie Skarsoe leads the series, followed by Thamar Zweistra and Germany’s Raphael Netz.

The next leg in the Western European League will take place in Stuttgart (GER) on 14 and 15 November.