Teddy Riner and Clarisse Agbégnénou won another world title in Doha. On Italian roads, Remco Evenepoel took control of the Giro on Sunday before having to give up, testing positive for Covid-19.
France shone on the mats of Doha. After the sixth world title of Clarisse Agbégnénou, Teddy Riner offered himself a new planetary coronation, Saturday May 13, the eleventh of his career. On the tricolor lawns, the relegations of Ajaccio and Troyes in Ligue 2 have been sealed. The battle raged on the Giro between Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic, before the former was finally forced to retire.
If you haven’t followed this weekend’s sports news, franceinfo: sport has selected what you shouldn’t miss.
Judo: Teddy Riner still indestructible in Doha
The king has regained his throne. Six years after his last coronation, Teddy Riner won his 11th world crown on Saturday May 13 in Doha (Qatar). The Guadeloupean, demoted to 18th in the world for lack of activity, stood up to a part of the table oh so raised until his consecration. After coming undone one after the other the reigning vice-world champion, Tatsuru Saito, and world number one, Temur Rakhimov, the French colossus disposed of the 2021 European champion, Inal Tasoev, after an unbreathable final.
The Blues even believed to hold the mixed team title after a thrilling final on Sunday, but the Japanese ended up winning in the decisive seventh fight. The tricolor delegation nevertheless returned with their suitcases full of their trip to Doha. The Blues won a total of eight medals during the closing weekend of the competition in Qatar: two gold, four silver and two bronze.
Gymnastics: the Minister of Sports opens an investigation after acts of abuse
Speech is freed in gymnastics. In “Stade 2”, broadcast on Sunday May 14, six former athletes evoke for the first time abuse, violence, and harassment when they played for the France team. The facts range from hurtful remarks about the physique to disregard for the health of athletes, leading to repeated injuries.
“What is needed is that we can open an investigation and we will do it tomorrow (Monday) morning with the teams from the Ministry of Sports”, announced the Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, present on the set. The president of the French Gymnastics Federation, James Blateau, who did not speak in the investigation, has on his side “convened an exceptional meeting of the executive board of the federation on Monday in order to discuss the measures to be taken”he explained in a press release.
Football: Messi upset, Ajaccio and Troyes relegated
If the battle is bitter at the top of the table, the last of the Ligue 1 class are still struggling to ensure their maintenance. On the side of Ajaccio and Troyes, the fight ended this weekend. For a few days, the relegation of the two clubs seemed inevitable, it is now official. The promoted Ajaccien was largely inclined on the lawn of Paris Saint-Germain (0-5) during the timid return of Lionel Messi after his suspension. PSG are getting closer to an 11th title of champion of France. The fate of Trojans was sealed at Rhoazon Park against Stade Rennes (4-0).
In this new formula which sees four clubs relegated at the end of the season (one more than usual), Ligue 1 already knows three of them: Ajaccio, Troyes and Angers. FC Nantes, after the slap received in the final of the Coupe de France (1-5), once again came up against Toulouse (0-0), and still occupies the place of first relegation.
Giro: Remco Evenepoel takes back the pink jersey before giving up
In good shape on his bike then forced to retire, Remco Evenepoel went from nothing to nothing on the Italian roads. The leader of the Soudal Quick-Step formation had however had a very good weekend, with his victory in the second time trial of the Giro, Sunday May 14, which had allowed him to recover the pink jersey five days after the ‘have lost. But everything went up in smoke with this routine Covid-19 test that came back positive, Sunday evening, a few hours after the podium and the champagne.
With this abandonment, it is Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers), who came second in the clock one second behind the Belgian, who will start with the overall leader’s tunic during the 10th stage, Tuesday morning. The way also seems to be opening up for Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), the announced rival of Evenepoel, who nibbled away and limited the breakage this weekend.
MotoGP: podium for Johann Zarco at the French Grand Prix
For the 1000th race in the history of MotoGP, Johann Zarco offered a nice gift to the French public of the Bugatti circuit. The Pramac driver won his second podium of the season after an eventful race on the Sarthois track. Starting 9th, Zarco took advantage of the fall of the ghost Marc Marquez in the last laps to get on the box. Fabio Quartararo, the other French driver, also signed a comeback, from 13th to 7th place.
It was the Italian Marco Bezzechi who came out on top at the checkered flag, after a great start from the 3rd row and a controlled race. This second career victory allows him to come back to a small point behind the defending champion and leader of the drivers’ classification, Francesco Bagnaia, who crashed and did not finish the race. The Italian will have the opportunity to get back in the saddle at home during the next Grand Prix, at Imola, on June 11.