La Baule: Tokyo is the goal for the French team

Vital component of the French team for many years as a rider, with among others a title of team vice champion at the World Equestrian Games in Rome in 1998 with his faithful Thor des Chaînes, Thierry Pomel keeps putting his talent at the service of the French, at the heart of the federal team : after being Henk Nooren’s, then Philippe Guerdat’s assistant, in charge of the reserve senior team, U25 and young riders, he became national coach mi January.

« I am proud to be in charge of the French team » admits Thierry Pomel. But he does not make it a secret, he gets into this new chapter of his career with an additional pressure, qualify France for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. It is not going to be a quiet year » confirms Thierry. « Experienced riders and horses will take turn in competition. I try to apply the right strategy in order to find the five best pairs to grab the qualification. » A qualification that will be available at the European championships in Rotterdam, in August, or at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations CupTM in Barcelona, in October.

The various legs of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations CupTM will play their role if France wishes to get its ticket for the Olympics, the La Baule leg to start with. « It is the first CSIO5* of the Division 1, and we are on home ground. It will be the starting point of the qualification for the final » recalls Thierry Pomel, for whom the day will be full of emotion. It will be the first step towards the qualification campaign for the blue jackets and also the first time Thierry Pomel will carry the French flag during the Nations parade. « I know this site very well, I rode several nations cups with Thor, I won here, but walk into the stadium with the flag will create a real emotion. Especially in front of this public I love and which always encourages us! » For this first round, the national coach decided to lean on Simon Delestre and Ucello de Will, Nicolas Delmotte and Ilex VP, Alexis Deroubaix and Timon d'Aure, Pénélope Leprevost and Vancouver de Lanlore and Thierry Rozier with Venezia d'Ecaussinnes. He is happy to see the cornerstones of the discipline back in the team. « I am delighted to see Simon (Delestre) back in the French group, and to be able to lean on his experience to grab the qualif’. »

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