The sporting weekend was marked by the new goal record for PSG set by Kylian Mbappé, the domination of Red Bull as soon as the F1 season resumed and the end of the European Indoor Athletics Championships .
Resumption of the F1 season, the Strade Bianche followed by the kick-off of Paris-Nice, the Europe of indoor athletics, without forgetting the Ligue 1 championship: have you lost track this weekend? Franceinfo: sport summarizes everything you should not miss from this weekend of sport.
Ligue 1: Mbappé, new king of PSG
A home record, the captain’s armband around his arm, an evening of victory against Nantes (4-2). Difficult to dream better for Kylian Mbappé, who made history on Saturday March 4, by scoring his 201st goal in the jersey of Paris Saint-Germain. He surpassed Edinson Cavani’s record, which he co-held since the match against OM, to become the only top scorer in PSG history. Arrived from Monaco in 2017, the Ile-de-France born had ticked this objective during his extension with the club of the capital last May.
If he took the time to savor the festivities organized for the occasion, the striker did not lose sight of his team’s next meeting: the shock of the return match against Bayern Munich, Wednesday March 8. “It’s a personal accomplishment but I also came for a collective accomplishment”, said the star at the microphone of Canal + after the meeting.
F1: Verstappen at full speed, Alonso’s second youth
By signing a double, the Red Bulls have left no mystery about their intentions in this resumption of the F1 season: to win, once again. The reigning double world champion Max Verstappen was ten seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez on the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain on Sunday March 5. In third position, the Spaniard Fernando Alonso made his return to the podium, a first since 2021.
At the wheel of a very convincing Aston Martin during winter tests and free practice sessions, the 41-year-old veteran driver offers himself a second youth. Until dreaming of reconnecting with the victory that he has not known since 2013? The next meeting will be held in Saudi Arabia, on a circuit where Fernando Alonso had abandoned last year, betrayed by the engine of his Alpine.
Athletics: Kevin Mayer, golden mission accomplished
Coming to Istanbul to seek a third European crown in the heptathlon and a new European record, Kevin Mayer will only leave Turkey with the laurels. The Frenchman won a new title at the end of the suspense, ahead of his Norwegian dolphin Sander Skotheim by just 30 points, after alternating the good and the less good on his seven tests.
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In total, the French team leaves with six medals (one gold, two silver, three bronze), five of which were gleaned on Sunday afternoon. A satisfactory record with the first international charms for the half-founders Azzedine Habz, Benjamin Robert and Agnès Raharolahy, but which still leaves many questions unanswered for the next major global events, the Budapest Worlds in August and the Paris Olympics. 2024.
Freestyle skiing: Tess Ledeux, three stars
Three, like the number of world titles that Tess Ledeux, 21, now has to her name. The Savoyard won at the Worlds of Bakouriani, Saturday March 4, the big air final, a large springboard on which the skiers rush. It all came down to a decisive third and final run. Back to the wall after missing the reception of her second jump, the Habs performed a very raised figure, which she had never before performed in competition.
This victory takes on a very special flavor for the skier, who is coming back from a concussion which kept her away from the snowparks for three weeks this fall. Already crowned in 2019 and Olympic vice-champion in Tokyo, Tess Ledeux therefore enters a little more into the annals of her discipline.
Cycling: Tim Merlier, first leader of the race to the sun
Despite two climbs placed about twenty kilometers from the finish, the first stage of Paris-Nice ended in a final sprint at La Verrière (Yvelines), Sunday. In line with his prolific month of February (four victories), it was the Belgian Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) who raised his arms in front of Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo). On the French side, Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) finished in 7th and 10th place respectively.
The day before, on the Strade Bianche, the Briton Tom Pidcock, cyclo-cross specialist, offered himself a great victory on the road after a twenty-kilometre solo effort. Member of the chasing group, Frenchman Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) took second place.