Equestrian FEI Eventing Nations Cup 2019

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So Switzerland climbed from 12th to 4th during just one rider rotation. I guess this is what we can expect next year.

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Belgians have gave it all today.  Now they can just sit and hope it's enough for Top 4.

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Belgians have secured Top 3 after cross-country! By far their best cross-country performance in years, and right when they really needed it.

 

Switzerland can still defend their qualification though. Netherlands are out.

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Standings after Cross-country...

 

78.10

114.30

117.50

120.20

125.90

128.40

138.20

292.50

292.90

340.40

342.40

503.60

 

 

Virtual Olympic qualification rankings...

 

380 (ahead on tie-break)

380

355 (out)

 

So despite incredible 3rd place overnight, Belgians still miss out on tie-break. Granted, Swiss had the second best overall team cross-country round today.

 

In any case, another equestrian qualification nail-biter is coming up tomorrow.

Edited October 12, 2019 by dcro

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Andrew Nicholson shared an interesting point of view regarding the new Olympic team format.

 

"This way is going to make it very exciting. You’ve got to try to get three clear rounds – they don’t have to go flat out. I think it’ll be very difficult for some riders to take team orders, and I think it’ll be difficult for team managers, but I can see it looking very exciting. It puts a lot of pressure on the riders. I’ve thought for years that it’s odd that riders at the Olympics win medals for doing a bad job, sometimes – I’ve done it myself, but you don’t see any of the other sports do that. In a relay race, if you drop the baton, you’re out – so making all three scores count is more the way sport is in the Olympic Games. Everyone has to do their best.”

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Looks like there is only a single substitution overnight. Karim Laghouag had a horse fall yesterday, so Nicolas Touzaint will step in as a mandatory substitution.

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Meanwhile, vs battle will continue with show jumping today. Switzerland very much has an upper hand though, for two reasons. First, they are already guaranteed to win any tie-break scenario over Belgium. Second, it's pretty much impossible for them to drop below 7th place.

 

There are three options for the Belgians:

• If they stay 3rd, then they would need Switzerland to drop to 6th or lower.
• If they move up to 2nd, then they would need Switzerland to stay 5th or lower.
• If they drop to 4th, then it's game over as Switzerland should finish no lower than 7th.

 

I can see Switzerland losing a place or two. But then again, Belgians are by no means safe in their position.

 

In any case, complete jumping round will be streamed here. First session is at 11 a.m., while the second one (including team rotations) starts at 2 p.m. local time...

 

Edited October 13, 2019 by dcro

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Switzerland overtook Belgium. It's pretty much set in stone now, unless Belgians pull two clears.

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Bad round for Godel. Switzerland is again in danger.

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Poor round for van Rijckevorsel, so Switzerland alive again.