Damaged on Sunday by Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard nevertheless ended the week in yellow on the Tour de France.
The sports weekend was marked by the end of the first week of the Tour de France, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July. Both stages were won by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), while Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) saw his lead shrink in the general classification and Mark Cavendish (Astana) was forced to quit. In Formula 1, Max Verstappen signed another victory at Silverstone, while the number 1 of the Draft Victor Wembanyama made his debut on the American floors. Back to the highlights of the weekend.
Tour de France: Pogacar has the ascendancy over Vingegaard
For the return from the puy de Dôme on Sunday during the 9th stage, Tadej Pogacar (UAE) took a slight advantage over Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). At the finish, the Slovenian was ahead of his rival by eight seconds. Even if he remains 17 seconds behind the yellow jersey in general, he will attack the second week, Tuesday, in a position of chaser which suits him.
The two heavyweights, however, did not dispute the stage victory, won by Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), which put an end to the solo raid by Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) in the last hectometres. The day before, the decision was made in a sprint in the streets of Limoges. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was more skilful to win and frustrate Jasper Philipsen, yet until then undisputed master of the exercise, with three victories during the first week of the Tour.
The end of the dream for Mark Cavendish
This will remain as one of the strong images of this Tour de France. Fell about sixty kilometers from the finish of the 8th stage on Saturday, Mark Cavendish (Astana) suffered a broken collarbone and was forced to retire. The co-holder of the stage victory record (34, like Eddy Merckx) was chasing a new success, which would have definitively registered him among the legends of the Tour.
Alas, the “Cav'”, who announced in May the end of his career at the end of this season, will not beat this record, unless surprised. The day before in Bordeaux, however, he was a breath away from gleaning a 35th success, before being overtaken by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). His crestfallen appearance after this exit through the small door moved many runners.
Wimbledon: Alcaraz and Swiatek shaken, Djokovic will return on Monday
The 3rd round of Wimbledon ended on Saturday, without much surprise. Carlos Alcaraz (against Nicolas Jarry) and Daniil Medvedev (against Marton Fucsovics) were rocked, but qualified in four sets. Ons Jabeur also dropped a set against Bianca Andreescu, while Aryna Sabalenka sent the deal in 1h22 against Anna Blinkova. Note the performance of Matteo Berrettini, in the hard since the beginning of the year 2023 but feller of Alexander Zverev in three sets.
Sunday, for the start of the eighth, world number 1 Iga Swiatek was in great difficulty against Belinda Bencic and had to save two match points, before finally winning in three sets. Seeded number 4, Jessica Pegula qualified without a hitch, while the comeback Elina Svitolina bent Victoria Azarenka in the super tie-break.
In the men’s draw, Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner joined the quarters. Jostled by Hubert Hurkacz, Novak Djokovic got scared in the first set and had to save two set points before pocketing the set. The scenario took place almost the same way in the second set but this time the “Djoker” concluded the tie-break with more security. The night, however, got the better of the meeting and the Serb will have to return on Monday to finish his fight against the Pole.
F1: Verstappen, again and again
As since the start of the season, Max Verstappen was above the fray in the British Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who started from pole position, won his eighth race of the season (out of ten), further consolidating his first place in the world championship standings. He is now 99 points ahead of his runner-up and teammate Sergio Pérez. At “home” at the Silverstone circuit, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton climbed onto the podium, without being able to snatch victory from the untouchable Verstappen.
Timid start for Victor Wembanyama in the United States
It’s not the NBA yet, but Victor Wembanyama has had a first glimpse of his new life across the Atlantic. The Frenchman, selected by the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Draft, discovered the American courts during the “Summer League”, a friendly competition. Despite the lack of stake, he measured expectations around his debut, in front of 18,000 people in Las Vegas. Still in the learning phase, Wembanyama had a discreet first against Charlotte (9 points, 8 rebounds), on the night of Friday to Saturday. The French giant shone more for his second appearance, against Portland on the night of Sunday to Monday, with 27 points and 12 rebounds.