The 35-year-old, winner of an Olympic bronze medal in the team competition at Rio 2016, found the fastest route home in the dramatic eight-horse jump-off on board Equita van T Zorgvliet to secure a vital win.

Deusser finished in 42.93sec, with Switzerland’s Romain Duguet, who topped the podium in the most recent Western European League competition in Helsinki, having to settle for second place.

Duguet, riding Quorida de Treho, completed the tricky course in 43.98.

Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and horse Ensor de Litrange closely followed in third having recorded a time of 43.80.

The result saw the German victor move into the lead on the overall standings on 37 points, nine in front of nearest challenger Pieter Devos of Belgium.

Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum is a further two adrift in third, with Switzerland’s London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Steve Guerdat, occupying fourth place.

It proved to be a difficult outing for three-time World Cup champion Marcus Ehning of Germany.

Riding Pret a Tout he fell victim to the tough course, designed by Frank Rothenberger, and was unable to qualify for the jump-off.

The next FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League event is scheduled to take place from November 9 to 11 in Verona in Italy.

"I have been jumping young horses in Belgium for the last three weeks so I just started the World Cup here in Lyon," Deusser said.

"My plan now is to go to Verona, Stuttgart and Madrid, and I will also be competing with First Class and Cornet D’Amour over the next few weeks.

"In December I will then make a new plan but I’m definitely hoping to get to Omaha for the final."