The World Cup officially underway in Lyon

The highly anticipated 5* event in Lyon, France is set to get underway today. The tension is rising to see who will be the next winner of the FEI World Cup trophy for 2014 and take the crown from the current holder Beezie Madden who will also be in action with her performer Simon.
Last year she rode to the title after a nail biting battle which was won against the Olympic Champion Steve Guerdat. Beezie Madden will also be giving an exclusive interview to the website in the coming days and will be speaking about a range of topics from the World Cup to her predictions for the rest of the field, which includes the participation of 11 athletes from her country USA.
Yesterday meanwhile, the veterinary tests and final preparations took place while the riders had their first chance to have a practice ride before the action gets underway. However, the real events for these athletes begins tomorrow on Friday the 18th of April.
The schedule for today on the other hand sees a CSI2* competition scheduled. At lunchtime today the finalists will take part in a warm-up for the final of the World Cup. The day’s events finish at 17.00 with a second 2* competition, the Prix Fonds Eperon, while tomorrow the first trial of the World Cup final will be taking place after the initial opening ceremony. As for the dressage discipline, the first of the finals will be taking place on Saturday.
As usual, FEI TV will be showing all the action live, while the final will be broadcast on Eurosport. Finally, there is more than just show-jumping and dressage going on and the spectators will be treated to a range of breeding events and the republican guard tournament that will be taking place today.
source: eventcontend.com