Defending champion Mario Gandolfo (SUI) with Favela during the marathon at the FEI Driving World Championship 2026 Singles - Munich (GER). © FEI / Martin Dokoupil

05.09.2028

Defending world champion Mario Gandolfo (SUI) surged from 11th to second overall with a marathon victory at the FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses in Munich (GER).

Gandolfo and his 12-year-old mare Favela finished on 81.28 to repeat their marathon victory of two years ago, when they went on to claim their first Individual gold medal. Dressage leaders Stefan Ulrich (SUI) and Bombardier retained first place overall, leaving Switzerland occupying the top two Individual positions and strengthening their lead in the Team competition.

The 12th of 85 Athletes to start on Saturday, Gandolfo faced a long wait to discover whether his leading score would hold up. It did, although two Dutch Team members came close. Gandolfo recorded the fastest times at two of the seven obstacles.

Echoing the sentiments he expressed two years ago about his “incredible mare” Favela, who he says always gives him her best, Gandolfo said: “It has been a long day! I’ve been waiting for a long time because I was so early to start. I didn’t think our marathon was that exceptional and I felt I had some hesitations.

“But to be so consistent with the help of my horse and have my team behind me, all helped me to go ahead. I want to thank everyone, the big crowd and the organisers, and especially my mare Favela. We had to adjust to the ground and the conditions, which were very different from Le Pin two years ago, and I think Course Builder Michael Mayer did an incredible job.”

Swiss Athletes retain the lead

Dressage leader Stefan Ulrich and Bombardier did enough to retain their overall lead on a combined total of 122.80, with Gandolfo climbing from 11th to second on 128.93.

Their marathon scores consolidated Switzerland’s lead in the Team competition on 247.20.

Two Dutch Team members also climbed the leaderboard with near-identical marathon scores. Larissa Jansma and Dandy Jane finished second on 81.57, with Eline Houterman and Fino Uno Toltien third on 81.60. Each combination recorded the fastest time at one obstacle.

Jansma climbed from 18th to sixth overall on 133.94, while Houterman rose from 62nd to 22nd.

Their teammate Cindy Benschop and Liberty, like Ulrich, had built enough of an advantage in the dressage to remain third overall on 130.68.

Those performances left the Netherlands second in the Team competition on 254.39, ahead of France in third on 260.99.

Germany’s Anne Unzeitig and De Niro 29 also climbed the leaderboard and are fourth overall on 131.19 after finishing fifth in the marathon on 83.41. The German Team is fourth on 269.65.

France’s highest-placed Individual combination is Fabrice Martin and Idromel Noir, who dropped one place to fifth on 131.64.

Less than a point separates the combinations in seventh, eighth and ninth. Thursday’s dressage leaders, Laure Philippot (BEL) and Galen V, are now seventh on 134.26; Marie Schiltz (LUX) and Frodo are eighth on 134.28; and Tony Ecalle (FRA) and Kensington are ninth on 134.88. Completing the top 10 are Clement Deschamps (FRA) and Brume de Chablis on 136.17.

Titles to be decided on Sunday

Course Builder Michael Mayer (SUI) said ahead of the event that he had needed to adapt his obstacle designs to the venue and terrain.

Several of the obstacles involved slopes and tight turns within complex layouts. Some were constructed from mobile elements with balls balanced on them. Each ball knocked down added two penalties to the score – the equivalent of eight seconds, as every second spent in an obstacle equates to 0.25 penalties.

There was also discussion about the number of obstacles. While there were historically eight, a rule change means seven are permitted at a Single Horse World Championship. The new marathon format also includes an additional practice obstacle as part of the warm-up.

That did not diminish the enjoyment of the large crowd, who spent the day moving between the obstacles and cheering on their nations and favourite combinations.

Sunday’s technically demanding cones course will be staged in the same grass arena used for the dressage. With margins so narrow between the leading combinations, the cones will play a decisive role in determining the results and medals.

FULL RESULTS