The weekend was also marked by Max Verstappen’s victory in the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, after a very lively race.
The second Monument of the cycling season dazzled by the class of Tadej Pogacar, Sunday April 2, a French victory against the XV of the Women’s Clover in the Six Nations Tournament, Saturday, and two more lively races in motor sports… The weekend was rich in emotions on the sporting level. But the main information remains the induction of French basketball player Tony Parker into the NBA Hall of Fame. If you haven’t followed this weekend’s sports news, franceinfo: sport has selected what you shouldn’t miss.
Basketball: Tony Parker in the pantheon of American basketball
Forever the first. Former basketball player Tony Parker becomes the first Frenchman to enter the NBA Hall of Fame, the basketball pantheon, the body announced on Saturday April 1. He notably joins Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, to name but a few.
Youngest starting point guard in NBA history, first French NBA champion, first French All-Star, first foreign MVP (best player) of the NBA finals, and now the first Frenchman to enter the Hall of Fame, the current president de l’Asvel has left an indelible mark on the history of basketball. The former San Antonio Spurs and France point guard will be inducted August 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts, along with two other Europeans, the German Dirk Nowitzki and the Spaniard Pau Gasol.
Cycling: Tadej Pogacar, King of Flanders
The Slovenian prodigy won a fourth Monument, Sunday, on the Tour of Flanders. And how ! Stronger than his two main competitors, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, the leader of UAE-Emirates multiplied the attacks in the cobbled climbs of the Round. While the Belgian had already been unclamped on the pedal, “Pogi” carried the blow with a new fatal acceleration to “MVDP” in Old Kwaremont.
After a solo exercise on the flat where he resisted the return of the Dutchman, the recent winner of Paris-Nice became the third man to include the Tour de France and the Tour of Flanders on his list, like Louison Bobet and Eddy Merckx before him. It’s no surprise to anyone but at 24, Tadej Pogacar already has everything of a legend.
Six Nations Tournament: the Irish ride for the Blues
A victory without debate. The XV of France won in Ireland (53-3), Saturday April 1, for its second match of the Six Nations Tournament. Although reduced to fourteen from the 20th minute, the French imposed their style of play, scoring nine tries in total against this young Irish team in reconstruction, completely overwhelmed defensively.
The players of the new duo at the head of the XV of France Gaëlle Mignot – David Ortiz even benefited from an offensive bonus. Positive signals that reassure after the painful victory against Italy last week (22-12). Never since the beginning of the century had the French women inflicted such a defeat on the Irish. Still in the race for the Grand Slam, Les Bleues will have the Scots as their next opponent, April 16 in Vannes (Morbihan), for the third day of the Tournament.
Formula 1: Max Verstappen winner of a crazy race
Despite a race full of emotions, which was decided on the final lap after three red flags and four starts, the king did not fall. Dutchman Max Verstappen won the Australian Grand Prix, the third round of the world championship, on Sunday April 2. Slightly jostled at the start of the race, the Red Bull driver then dominated without ever being worried again, climbing to the podium ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).
The Grand Prix was above all marked by a crazy end to the race, where the last laps were synonymous with chaos, Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) hitting Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and the two Alpine single-seaters of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon being forced to abandonment.
MotoGP: Johann Zarco takes second place in Argentina
A Frenchman can hide another. While we were mainly expecting the 2021 world champion, Fabio Quartararo, at the start of the season, it was Johann Zarco who made the best impression in Argentina. Already the author of a fine end to the race in Portugal, last week, the Pramac driver signed three last classy laps to take second place behind the Italian Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney). In the drivers’ standings, Zarco is third behind the winner of the day and the reigning world champion, Francesco Bagnaia, who crashed.