Maikel van der Vleuten managed to win the VDL Prijs convincingly on Friday evening.

In total 21 combinations stayed clear in this qualification for the Grand Prix of Maastricht and were allowed to go through to the jump-off. As third starter in that jump-off Maikel set a super fast time of 36.41 seconds with the 10-year-old mare Elwikke. A time that ultimately proved unbeatable. Britain's Ellen Whitaker managed to come closest to Maikel's time. She rode her jump-off in 36.63 seconds with Equine America Spacecake (OS, Stakkato x Kannan). A time that was good for second place. Frenchman Cedric Hurel was third with the Zangersheide gelding Fantasio Floreval Z (Florian de la Vie x Clinton). This combination stopped the clock at 37.52 seconds. Dutch rider Manon Hees came close to Hurel’s time. She needed 37.54 seconds to cross the finish line with the BWP stallion Kamiel van het Langwater. Good for fourth place.