Martin Fuchs took 4th place in the World Cup vault at the CHI in Basel. The Zurich native thus pocketed valuable points with a view to a place in the final at the beginning of April, also in Basel.
Fuchs, riding his gelding Commissar Pezi, was the only one of the eleven Swiss riders entered to qualify for the jump-off. Victory went to Frenchman Julien Epaillard, who rode Donatello.
Fuchs had established himself on the banks of the Rhine with Clooney in 2018 and 2019. He tried everything to achieve the pass of three, but his rivals, who took fewer risks, were rewarded. The last two places on the podium went to the Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten and the British Tim Gredley.
Fuchs was clearly the fastest, but his 4th place can also satisfy him. It takes some pressure off him for the next few weeks, as his chances of qualifying for the World Cup final remain intact.
-The other Helvetians competing on Sunday did not have success. Steve Guerdat, whose ticket to the final is almost assured, shortened his course after Venard dropped two bars.
Both Géraldine Straumann and Edouard Schmitz, who can still dream of participating in the Basel final, were unable to score points on Sunday.
/ATS
