Gothemburg: last chance to qualify for World Cup Finals

Gothenburg represents the last chance for riders to earn points towards one of the places up for grabs to competitors, being the 13th and final leg of the Western European qualifying circuit for the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Final in Paris.
 The World Cup points will be distributed at the outcome of today’s 1.60m Grand Prix. Many top riders from the continent and beyond will be present at the Scandinavium arena for the showdown, including the current European champion Peder Fredricson, who sits at 27th position with his 26 points but needs to grab a risult in today’s event to secure his place in Paris.
The Swedish is direct competitor to Lorenzo De Luca: with his 28 points, the Italian is two spots ahead of him in the overall ranking and today in Sweden he will do his best to clinch what would be his second World Cup final in career, after his debut in Omaha last year at the end of a great season indoor. 
Among the others on the entries list in Gothemburg are Switzerland’s Paul Estermann, who is chasing points to climb back from 23rd place (30 points); Douglas Lindelow, the next-best ranked Swedish rider in Western Europe, currently in 18th place and looking to secure a spot at this spring’s competition. The group also includes Austria’s Max Kuhner (20th with 32 points) and France’s Aldrick Cheronnet (31st with 22 points).
In Paris, however, one of the World Cup star of the past seasons, Bertram Allen from Ireland will be missing. He is stuck at the 28th spot with 26 points but will not compete in today’s Grand Prix.
Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander is likely to be the only woman in the west-European league, unless Sweden’s Stephanie Holmen, who impressed in the qualifier in Zurich, manages to go through at the very last moment with a sensational result. It will be hard, however, since she is ranked 34th with 20 points.
Italy’s Alberto Zorzi will be missing in Gotheborg. However, with his 12th place and 45 points in the ranking, he can still hope for a ticket to Paris. Leader Kevin Staut (79 points) has already secured qualification, along with Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann (64 points) and Germany’s duo Christian Ahlmann and Marcus Ehning (57 and 56 points). France’s Roger-Yves Bost has good chances to go through with his 52 points, same is with Edwina Tops-Alexander and Belgium’s Pieter Devos, respectively 50 and 49 points.
The appointment is scheduled this afternoon at 3 pm at the Scandinavium Arena in Gothemburg.
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Photo: Lorenzo De Luca ITA Halifax van het Kluizebos WC Mechelen photo FEI Dirk Caremans