From Fontainebleau to Lier: Nations Cup battle continues after German victory and Verboomen breakthrough
Last weekend’s FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ in Fontainebleau (FRA) delivered top sport, with Germany taking the win in what was described as “a clash of the titans at Fontainebleau with the Germans prevailing.” While the German victory set the tone, a major highlight came from Belgium’s Justin Verboomen, who impressed with a personal best, setting the stage for the next leg in Lier (BEL), where several of the same combinations are expected to return.
Werth leads Germany to narrow victory in Fontainebleau
Germany’s Isabell Werth decided the result in the final ride, together with her teammates Benjamin Werndl, Svenja Kämper-Meyer and Frederic Wandres scoring a total of 230.065 in the CDIO 5* Grand Prix test. With a score of 228.630 Great Britain finished in second place, followed by Belgium with a score of 224.761. The narrow gaps between the teams reflected the high level across the board and confirmed how competitive this Nations Cup season is shaping up to be.
Unbelievably good: Justin Verboomen sets personal record
For Belgium, Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus stood out with a breakthrough performance in the Grand Prix. Delivering a personal best score of 83,500%, the pair topped the individual rankings in convincing fashion. “Zonik was absolutely fantastic. I haven’t quite grasped the progress yet,” Verboomen said. “I’m not quite able to do everything I truly want to do yet, but he showed tremendous progress today. In my dream, the horse is even more independent in the arena, with a sense of ease.” In a field filled with experienced championship riders, the result marked an important step forward and positions the combination as one to watch moving forward.
Lier setting the stage for immediate rematch
That momentum now carries directly into Lier. With several top riders from Fontainebleau expected to line up again, the Belgian leg is a natural continuation of the series. The elite of dressage will once again go head-to-head on 23 May.
Germany team winners the FEI Dressage Nations Cup 2026 – Fontainebleau (FRA)
Copyright©️ FEI / Evan Oudin
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