From the joy of the Bleues du rugby and the basketball player Gabby Williams to the disappointment of Benoît Cosnefroy, passing by the almost miraculous return of Tiger Woods, find the great moments of the sports weekend.
Rugby: the Blue continue their faultless in the Tournament
For their first trip to the Six Nations Tournament, Gaëlle Hermet’s teammates provided the essentials in Scotland. By signing an improved victory (8-28), they continue their faultless and stick to the tails of the English at the top of the standings.
If the first half was successful, punctuated by four tries including a new double from Laure Sansus, the second was less controlled. Put in difficulty by the XV du Chardon, the Tricolores were often penalized and did not manage to worsen the score.
Ligue 1: Paris flies towards the title, Marseille and Rennes make the hole
A trio escapes in Ligue 1. For PSG, the possibility of seeing the title escape with its twelve points lead over its first pursuer seems far away. The Parisians took another step with great success in Clermont (1-6). But this weekend, the good operation is on the side of Marseille and Rennes. Taking advantage of Strasbourg’s draw against Lyon (1-1) and Nice’s loss against Lens (3-0), they are now respectively seven and six points ahead of fourth place.
Marseille did not shake against Montpellier (2-0), with two goals scored in the first twenty minutes. The ride was less quiet for Rennes in Reims (2-3). After taking a three-goal lead thanks to Benjamin Bourigeaud, double scorer, and Martin Terrier, the Bretons saw Reims return to a length. But Bruno Génésio’s men held on to get closer to the Champions League.
Golf: the return of Tiger Woods
The feat was already to be there. Fourteen months after his serious car accident, from which he almost emerged amputated with a leg, Tiger Woods appeared on the mythical green of the Augusta Masters. In the blow after two rounds, the legend of American golf (fifteen majors won, including five in Augusta) finally cracked during the last two days. With a final card of +13, the Californian achieved his worst performance in Augusta.
But not enough to diminish his joy at being there, to the warm applause of golf fans. “It’s hard to put words to what I feelexplained the American to CBS. Considering where I was a little over a year ago and what the future held for me at that time, it’s amazing to be here and to have been able to play all four rounds .”
Formula 1: Charles Leclerc untouchable at the Australian Grand Prix
He flew over the Australian Grand Prix. Without a competitor after the retirement of Max Verstappen on the 39th lap, Charles Leclerc offered his second victory of the season.
In his Ferrari, the Monegasque dominated the race from start to finish. In the end, he won ahead of Sergio Lopez’s Red Bull and George Russell’s Mercedes. The French, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finished in 7th and 9th position. In the general classification, Charles Leclerc is widening the gap with second place, now occupied by George Russell.
MotoGP: Bastianini above, Quartararo limits the damage
And two for Enea Bastianini. The Italian won his second race of the season by winning in Austin at the Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday. Bastianini got the better of Jack Miller (Ducati) at the end of the race to win ahead of Alex Rins (Suzuki) and Miller. Imperial in intelligence and control, the Gresini Ducati rider regains the lead in the riders’ championship.
Another contrasting weekend on the other hand for the French drivers. Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo saved seventh place, despite a Yamaha still far from the mark in terms of top speed, so important on the COTA track. “El Diablo” is fifth in the drivers’ standings, 17 points from the lead. Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), only ninth on Sunday after starting from fourth place, is eighth.
Cycling: Cosnefroy beaten on the wire at the Amstel Gold Race
The instant of a few minutes, Benoit Cosnefroy thought he had won the race. In an intense final sprint with Michal Kwiatkoswki (Ineos Grenadiers), he was first announced as the winner, before the photo finish revealed otherwise. For a gut, it was the Pole who cut the line first, Sunday in Valkenburg. Seven years after his first success in Holland, he signed his second victory in the event.
Starting as a duo about thirty kilometers from the finish, Cosnefroy and Kwiatkoswki held on in the last moments of the race. Announced as the favorite of the race, Mathieu van der Poel never managed to take the right breakaway, finishing the race in fourth position.
Basketball: the tricolor international Gabby Williams European champion and best player
Five months before the Women’s World Cup, Gabby Williams is in great shape. The winger of the France team, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, confirmed all her talent on the European scene. The naturalized American carried her Hungarian team from Sopron to the title of the Women’s Euroleague, dominating the Turkish Fenerbahçe in the final (60-55) on Sunday in a distance duel with Bria Hartley, another naturalized tricolor international. Best of all, Williams was voted the Final Four’s MVP, averaging 14.5 points, 5 rebounds and 3.5 steals. The 25-year-old had already been voted best defender in the Euroleague last season.