Verboomen vs Werth: A Showdown Between Dressage Giants at 2026 CDI-W Lyon

2026 CDI-W Lyon

-- Equita Lyon press release

Longines Equita Lyon will be hosting the Lyon leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ from 28 October to 3 November and is promising thrilling performances and top-level competitions.

With 15 horse-and-rider combinations representing eight nations, the stage is set for an exciting showdown between Isabell Werth, a five-time winner in Lyon, and last year’s winner Justin Verboomen. With a host of ambitious challengers, talented French riders and rising stars also in the mix, this promises to be a fiercely contested World Cup™ leg.

Five Wins for Werth

Five wins in Lyon versus a win on his very first attempt. Isabell Werth knows the Longines Equita Lyon arena almost by heart while Justin Verboomen has only experienced one victory there.

On Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October, the German and the Belgian riders will come will face to face in a showdown that promises to be one of the highlights of this World Cup™ leg. The elegant Wendy de Fontaine will take on the expressive Zonik Plus.

With a string of victories to her name, Isabell Werth has secured her place in Lyon’s World Cup™ leg history. At 57, the German rider, currently world number three, continues to demonstrate the remarkable consistency that has kept her at the top of the sport across generations, winning at the biggest events and continually reinventing herself with horses she has turned into champions. She returns to Lyon to an arena she knows very well, with Wendy de Fontaine, her partner at the most recent FEI World Championships.

As for Justin Verboomen, he only came to Lyon for the first time last year. The Belgian rider has “very fond memories” of his first appearance there, and rightly so: riding Zonik Plus, he triumphed in his very first test in the ring in Lyon, achieving a personal best in the Grand Prix. A year later, the world number two has no intention of making it easy for “Queen Werth” to reclaim her crown in Lyon.

Simple Approach

Justin Verboomen's approach for Lyon is simple: to stay relaxed and have fun.

“I really want to enjoy myself. That’s the approach I’m taking at the moment. I’m trying to trust myself, enjoy myself and feel that Zonik is enjoying it too, with that same sense of lightness. At the moment, we’re really finding that sense of relaxation at home, and it makes me eager to take that feeling into the competition arena. Lyon will be our first show since Aachen; I can’t wait to be back with the crowd and experience the atmosphere of the indoor arena.”

Both have previously been world number one. Currently ranked second and third respectively, Justin Verboomen and Isabell Werth have their sights set on victory. Lyon will host the first leg of this circuit where both riders will try to reclaim the top spot. Two riders, two very different horses, but a single goal: to win.

Five-Star Performers

Unless other contenders challenge this much anticipated German-Belgian showdown, as fifteen combinations, representing eight nations will be competing in Lyon.

Among them will be Dutch rider Marieke van der Putten, who was sixth at the World Championships in Aachen. The world number eight has already proved she is on a par with the best riders when it matters most. She’ll be hoping to challenge the favourites with Kuvasz RS2.

Larissa Pauluis has the same objective. The Belgian rider, world number 12, and her horse Flambeau are familiar faces at Longines Equita Lyon, having regularly been well placed in the FEI World Cup™ leg. Several victories in 5* Grand Prix Freestyle World Cup™ legs over the past year have cemented her place among the sport’s leading riders. Alongside Justin Verboomen, she is helping to put Belgian dressage firmly in the spotlight.

French Honour

The French riders have no intention of being overshadowed by the world’s best riders.

French Team rider Pauline Basquin in Lyon in 2025

Alexandre Ayache, a key member of the French team, will enter the arena with his trusted partner, Ruling Olivia, with his sights firmly set on success. This experienced combination used to competing at the highest level will return to Lyon with the support of the home crowd.

For Alizée Roussel and Bel Amour, the story is quite different. The combination has been very determined since they took part in the World Dressage Championships in Aachen in August. A pivotal moment for the rider, who has known Bel Amour since his earliest days and has trained him from scratch, leading to performances in some of the world’s most prestigious arenas.

A new chapter is beginning for them in Lyon. “This will be Bel Amour’s first World Cup™ leg, and I don’t know how he’ll react in the arena. But my friends Pauline Basquin and Larissa Pauluis, often come to Lyon and have nothing but good things to say about it! I’m sure I’m going to enjoy myself here!”

Iberian Passion

Could Lyon be dancing to a Spanish tune this year? Three Spanish combinations will be competing there.

Lucia Gallardo on Hip by Johnson will be performing alongside Claudio Castilla Ruiz on Jota das Figueiras, whilst the experienced Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo, aged 67, is counting on Quartar. Three combinations, three generations of riders and the same goal: to bring a touch of Spanish flair to Lyon and prove that Spain is a force to be reckoned with.

Portugal’s Maria Caetano also boasts an impressive track record. The rider, who is currently world number 21, will be competing with Hit Plus, with whom she was fifth in the Grand Prix Freestyle at Le Printemps des Sports Équestres in Fontainebleau in April.

Nothing is Set in Stone

But there are plenty of other riders with their sights set on victory. Britain’s Lewis Carrier has already proved that you don’t need years of experience to be successful. At just 29, he is the youngest rider in the field and, alongside Diego V, is part of a new generation of talented riders making its mark at the highest level.

Wim Verwimp (BEL) and Jedai de Massa, Thamar Zweistra (NED) and Hexagons Mr Magnum, and Rebecca Mauléon (SWE) with Johnnie Walker BCN complete a line-up that brings together riders of different generations, styles and backgrounds, all competing to showcase the very best of dressage and put on an incredible performance for spectators.

The music builds, and excitement fills the stands. Who will win the leg in Lyon in 2026? Lyon is set for a spectacular display of dressage with harmonious and perfectly choreographed performances.

View the full list of entries here.

Lyon Highlights

Thursday 29 October
The FEI Dressage World Cup™- Grand Prix presented by CRE-ARA

Friday 30 October
The FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy, the CWD Grand Prix
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ - Grand Prix Freestyle presented by FFE Generali
The Longines Grand Prix, CSI5*-W, followed by the equestrian show One Night at Equita

Saturday 31 October
The FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy, the CWD Grand Prix
The FEI Driving World Cup™ presented by Laiterie de Montaigu, first round
The Equita Masters presented by Hermès Sellier, followed by the equestrian show, One Night at Equita

Sunday 1 November
The FEI Driving World Cup™ presented by Laiterie de Montaigu, second round
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ leg

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