The Blues hung in Austria, the Top 14 semi-finals known, Roglic holds his Dauphiné… What to remember from the sports weekend

Sport has offered us a new weekend rich in lessons and emotions. The French football team was hooked by Austria in Vienna (1-1), the world of ovals saw the qualifications of Stade Toulousain and Bordeaux-Bègles in the semi-finals of the Top 14. In cycling, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic distinguished himself three weeks before the Tour de France by winning the Critérium du Dauphiné. Motorsports delighted their fans with the victory of Toyota in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and that of Red Bull in the Grand Prix of Azerbaijan in Formula 1.

France-Austria: Kylian Mbappé saves the Blues

They had a narrow escape. In Vienna, Austria, the France team came close to defeat on Friday June 10, but they were able to get the draw (1-1) in the last minutes. Entering shortly after the hour mark, it was Kylian Mbappé who gave the victory to the Blues with a shot from the left in the top corner (83rd). The brilliance of the evening with the first successful tenures of Ibrahima Konaté and Boubacar Kamara. The performance of the French has, once again, not convinced.

After this second draw and the defeat conceded from the start against Denmark, Didier Deschamps’ players find themselves last in their League of Nations group with two small points. A third straight game without a win in this rally for the Blues, who will want to reassure themselves, Monday evening, once again against Croatia.

Top 14: Toulouse and Bordeaux pass the course

They beat the European champions. Stade Toulouse disposed of Stade Rochelais on Saturday June 11 during the Top 14 barrage (33-28). Led by a great Antoine Dupont, the Rouge et Noir dominated two-thirds of the game before seeing the dangerous Maritimes come back to score in the final minutes. In vain, finally, because Toulouse won and joined Castres Olympique in the semi-finals.

The Bordeaux residents savor the try scored by Romain Buros in the Top 14 play-offs against Racing 92, on June 12, 2022. (ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP)

The next day, Sunday June 12, it was Bordeaux-Bègles in his den of Chaban-Delmas who validated his ticket. The Girondins logically beat Racing 92 (36-16) in front of a stadium filled to the brim. More disciplined, and superior to their opponents, the teammates of a great Maxime Lucu disgusted those of Gaël Fickou, and thus join Montpellier in the last four of the Top 14.

Critérium du Dauphiné: Primoz Roglic rewarded and ready for the Tour

He was the strongest. Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) won his first Critérium du Dauphiné on Sunday June 12. Without a stage victory to his credit, he played it like a good lord on Sunday at the top of the Salaison plateau, leaving the win to his teammate Jonas Vingegaard, second in the last Tour de France. But if he did not win, he marked by his domination and his assurance from start to finish.

The summary of step 8

Far from being insignificant, this victory three weeks before the start of the Grande Boucle sends strong signals to its future opponents. Roglic is in good shape in the mountains as well as in the time trial, his team disgusted the others and marched on the race with four victories. Some of the outsiders in the next Tour de France could only watch the dominance of the man in the yellow jersey from afar.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Toyota still alone in the world

Five years in a row crossing the line in the lead. This is the impressive performance of Toyota cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And on Sunday June 12, car n°8, notably driven by Brendon Hartley (with Sébastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa), crossed the line in the lead after just over 24 hours on the Sarthe circuit. In second position, we find his sister, the n°7 of Kamui Kobayashi (with Mike Conway and José Maria Lopez) who completed the famous endurance test more than two minutes behind the winning car.

Toyota number 8 of Sebastian Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 12, 2022. (JOAO FILIPE / JOAO FILIPE)

Behind, while the two Toyotas fought for the win in an intense mano a mano, Alpine had a difficult edition. With a catastrophic start and two places lost after the first turns against the Glickenhaus, they then experienced repeated mechanical incidents. Too much for the French team, which finally finished beyond the top 20.

F1: Red Bulls smile, Ferraris cry

In Baku, the blow was hard for the Ferraris. Starting on pole with Charles Leclerc, who quickly lost his place against Sergio Perez then Max Verstappen, they then had to suffer the retirement of their two pilots. Carlos Sainz left the track due to a hydraulic problem, before his Monegasque team-mate joined him later, on lap 20, with an engine problem. Result: the two Red Bulls spun and the reigning world champion wandered while his Mexican teammate ensured.

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen savor their double at the Baku Grand Prix (Azerbaijan), June 12, 2022. (XAVI BONILLA / AFP)

The balance sheet is therefore terrible for the Ferraris who see Red Bull escape. In the drivers’ standings, Max Verstappen flies ahead of Sergio Perez, now second (21 point behind). Charles Leclerc is third with 34 points behind. The same is true for the constructors’ classification where the Austrian team is now well ahead of the Italian with an 80-point lead.


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