France wins the Nations Cup in La Baule ahead of Germany with two double-zero rounds and two net rolls

Two Aachen winners—André Thieme on Chakaria (2024) and Richard Vogel riding United Touch S (2026)—along with the top female Nations Cup rider of 2025, Sophie Hinners, plus World Cup runners-up Daniel Deußer and Otello de Guldenboom, who are in exceptional form this year—Otto Becker could hardly have put together a stronger team for the Nations Cup in La Baule. French team manager Edouard Couperie later noted this on camera as well. He was all the more proud that his quartet ultimately managed to outshine the Germans.

First round

After the first round, it didn’t look like they were going to beat Germany today. Even though Richard Vogel and United Touch S—who have proven time and again that they’re at their best when it counts—were the last pair to finish, racking up twelve faults. But in this case, it didn’t matter, because their three teammates had each delivered flawless clear rounds—Thieme with Chakaria, Hinners in the saddle of the incredibly athletic Iron Dames Singclair, and Daniel Deußer with Otello de Guldenboom, the son of his successful horse Tobago Z.

Vogel and United Touch knocked down a bar on their very first jump. Two more followed. Coincidence? In any case, it didn’t matter at the moment. Germany was still undefeated.

And the competition? Nina Mallevaey demonstrated once again with Dynastie de Beaufour why she is currently the top-ranked rider in the world, with a clear round. The Olympic pair Olivier Perreau and his home-bred Dorai D’Aiguilly had one knockdown. Rising star Antoine Ermann and Floyd de Pres finished without any faults over the jumps but with a time penalty. The champion, Julien Epaillard, rode his eleven-year-old Mylord Carthago son Fringan de Vesquerie with a confidence on the course that almost only he can muster. They remained clear in their second Nations Cup appearance for France.

Going into the final round, the British team was still in contention with zero penalty points, as was Sweden with four. Belgium had eight penalty points, while Switzerland and Ireland each had nine.

A brilliant performance by France, bad luck for Germany

Then it was time for the second round. Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour, who hadn’t knocked down a single pole in more than a dozen courses over the winter, were the first pair to have a knockdown. A disappointed groan rippled through the crowd. But the rounds by Mallevaey’s teammates were a balm for the fans’ souls—three clear rounds, and with every single obstacle, you could hear the weight lifting off their shoulders. The cheering after Julien Epaillard also crossed the finish line clear as the final rider was so sudden and loud that Fringan de Vesquerie jumped in fright, but was quickly calmed down. This left France with one penalty point that counted.

Now it was up to the Germans. André Thieme and Chakaria—the mare is in better form than she was before her injury. Sophie Hinners and Singclair didn’t look like they were even thinking of making a mistake. The clever Swedish gelding actively prevented that from happening. Daniel Deußer’s Otello also jumped with a confidence that made him look like a hot World Championship contender—at least until the last obstacle. That’s where the bar finally came down. So it was up to the Aachen winners, Vogel and United Touch S, to seal the deal. A clear round would have secured the victory for Germany.

The wake-up call from the first round seemed to have done the trick. United Touch jumped again with its usual composure and confidence. On the final line, course designer Grégory Bodo had come up with one last little trick: a combination featuring a narrow steep jump as the takeoff, topped by a plank—or rather, a crossbar—that looked as if it would fall over at the slightest nudge. United Touch brushed past it with ease. The plank fell. The Germans’ dream of victory was over; the French erupted in cheers.

The hosts were thus declared the winners, despite incurring a time penalty. With four faults, Otto Becker and his team finished in second place. Third place went to Ireland following a furious comeback featuring three clear rounds. The Irish team consisted of Darragh Kenny/Eddy Blue (4/0), Bertram Allen/Conquest de Rigo (1/0), Cian O’Connor/Chatolinue PS (4/0), and Shane Sweetnam/James Kann Cruz (4/WD).

You can find all the results here.