This weekend, no French victory over the All Blacks in rugby to cannibalize the headlines, but the resumption of the biathlon season could liven up your discussions at the coffee machine. We summarize the events of the weekend to shine with your colleagues, friends or family.
Neymar, the ankle like Achilles heel
Sergio Ramos on the pitch for the first time since his signing, Parisian supporters were already salivating at the idea of finding their team furnished with almost all of its stars. It was without counting on Neymar’s new injury. A recurring event, as seasonal as a new wave of Covid-19 in the fall. The Brazilian violently twisted his left ankle by putting his foot on that of Yvann Maçon, Sunday, during the victory of PSG in Saint-Etienne.
“Ney” left the lawn immediately then the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium on crutches, a splint placed on his sore ankle. Unlike his previous big injuries, the Brazilian still has time to heal himself before the arrival of the sunny days and the knockout stages of the Champions League in February.
Neymar head down on crutches leaves Stade Geoffroy-Guichard hit in the left ankle #ASSEPSG pic.twitter.com/VDHRD44le3
– The Parisian | PSG (@le_Parisien_PSG) November 28, 2021
The sights are hard to adjust for blue biathletes
A better Sunday than Saturday. We’re not talking about your weekend – though – but that of the French biathletes. The season resumed Saturday in Östersund Sweden. Enough to have lunch in front of the television without feeling guilty. On the test of the individual, the Blues had not set their rifle. Among women, Anaïs Bescond achieved the best performance with … four faults and a 28th place. Among men, Emilien Jacquelin made no less than six faults (35th) but Simon Desthieux was very skilful (2 faults) to take 3rd place.
Sunday, almost all the French had set the sights. Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet took a nice 2nd place, not far ahead of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (6th). The men also managed a good group shot: Emilien Jacquelin (4th), Simon Desthieux (5th) and Fabien Claude (6th). Desthieux throne, moreover, at the top of the general classification after two stages for the first time in his career, tied with the Norwegian Johannes Boe.
PODIUM!
The French have corrected the shooting today! Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet takes 2nd place in the Östersund Sprint after a very good 10/10!
Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (9/10) finished 6th and @BescondAnais (9/10) 13th!#Alezlesbleus
Nordic Focus pic.twitter.com/HO9deegjTy– FFS – French Ski Federation (@FedFranceSki) November 28, 2021
The king of “mechanics” has left us
Formula 1 took a break this weekend but was still sadly at the heart of the news. On Sunday afternoon, the Williams team announced the passing of its founder Sir Frank Williams at the age of 79. The Briton had created the stable of the same name in the 1970s.
Sir Frank Williams was one of the kindest people I had the pleasure of meeting in this sport. What he achieved is something truly special. Until his last days I know he remained a racer and a fighter at heart. His legacy will live on forever. pic.twitter.com/NDIwIvzZCl
– Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) November 28, 2021
He then wrote the legend, his legend: 9 constructors’ titles and 7 titles for his pilots. It was especially in the 1990s that the Williams team dominated the premier category of motorsport, accumulating five titles in six seasons from 1992 to 1997. A car accident in the Var, in 1986, had left him quadriplegic but Frank Williams continued to roam the paddocks with an indelible passion. His daughter Claire took over the team in 2013 until the team was taken over by a pension fund in 2020.
Almost black screen on the white circus
So, we admit, you haven’t missed much. Finally if, the first place of the French Tessa Worley during the first round of the giant slalom of Killington, Saturday, after only nine downhill women. But the race was eventually called off due to dire weather conditions in Vermont. Sunday’s slalom was won by Mikaela Shiffrin. The American notched her 71st career victory, just that.
Cancellations, that was the theme of the weekend. A little further north-west, in Lake Louise (Canada), it rained as much as the snow, too abundant, for the first speed races for the men. Friday’s downhill was canceled as was Sunday’s super-G. Only the descent on Saturday took place. Matthieu Bailet took 7th place there but Alexis Pinturault missed the opportunity to grab some points by finishing beyond the top 30 (32nd). The super-G should have suited him more, he will have to wait until Thursday at Beaver Creek (United States) to take the start.
The French basketball team without its heads but with the others
Forget Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum and the other silver medalists at the Tokyo Olympics last summer. Apart from Andrew Albicy, the Blues launched without his Olympic stars, Friday November 26, the qualifications for the 2023 World Cup (from August 25 to September 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia). In the absence of its NBA and Euroleague players (except Paul Lacombe), the France team won not without difficulties against Montenegro (73-67).
Ironically for a disputed meeting in Pau, it is a player of the historical rival, Limoges, who made the difference in the last quarter in the person of Nicolas Lang. Victim of a sprained ankle early in the match, the winger still investigated 11 points in a row in the last quarter to overthrow Montenegro. Vincent Collet’s men continue on Monday in Hungary (6 p.m., France 4).