Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on top of the world in Lyon

The story just keeps getting richer.... Having won three European and two Olympic titles in 2021, as well as the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in 2022, and then giving birth to her second child this summer, the world's number one Dressage rider made a major statement on her return. This Saturday, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her favourite mare TSF Dalera BB marked their return to competition with a win in the FEI Dressage World CupTM - Grand Prix Freestyle presented by FFE GENERALI in Lyon. The German rider and her faithful companion put in a great performance,

receiving an excellent overall score of 90.140% from the judges. 

In front of a full house, the world number one and her accomplice performed a smooth yet precise freestyle dressage routine, with a particular musical sensibility.... Indeed, after the birth of her second child at the beginning of August, the German rider decided to make her return to the international stage in Lyon, and also decided to present a brand-new musical theme. And what a theme! A musical track with French notes, taking the audience back to the hits of Édith Piaf. 

"I always get shivers when I listen to Edith Piaf's songs. Then, one day, my mother suggested that I use the music for my dressage routines. I have to say that this music perfectly reflects the love affair between Dalera, France and myself," explained Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. "I took advantage of my maternity leave to prepare for this Freestyle to Music routine. There was an initial version, then a second and last Wednesday, when I practised it for the last time, I felt I had found the right formula, and Dalera liked it too.

One champion followed another in the arena in Lyon, as the world's most successful female Olympic athlete across all disciplines, Germany's Isabell Werth, took second place with the powerful Emilio. The couple presented a great routine to the sound of "dolce vita" and opera, with a final score of 87.945%. So, the German team took the top two places in the FEI Dressage World CupTM - Grand Prix Freestyle presented by FFE GENERALI. And they were not far from filling all three places on the podium, with Benjamin Werndl, the older brother of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, finishing in fourth place with a score of 82.775% on Famoso OLD. Third place went to the Swedish rider Patrik Kittel, a regular participant in Lyon, who was delighted with Touchdown's performance (84.630%).

Of the four French couples that started the class, Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall II OLD put in the best performance to finish sixth with a score of 77.255%. "Lyon is my favourite competition. My horse behaved really well and was in great condition. Of course, we still have work to do, but he wants to do his best, and that puts a smile on your face," said Morgan Barbançon at the press conference. Pauline Basquin (74.770% with Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE), Alexandre Ayache (73.250% with Jolene) and Guillaume Lundy (72.690% with Tempo IFCE) finished one after the other in ninth, tenth and eleventh places.