Have you cut for the weekend? Are you looking for great stories? The sports news of the last two days will please you. Between the grandiose spectacle and a new world crown for the Gabriella Papadakis-Guillaume Cizeron duo, the historic success of Biniam Girmay on the classic Ghent-Wevelgem or the return to the fore of Christian Eriksen, you are served. Note also the successful return of Les Bleues to the Six Nations Tournament, and Max Verstappen’s first victory of the season in Formula 1.
Figure skating: Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron on top of the world
A little over a month after winning their first Olympic gold medal in Beijing, the French couple won a fifth world champion title in ice dancing on Saturday March 26 at the Worlds in Montpellier. For their return to France, the two French skaters thrilled the Hérault ice rink and the some 7,000 spectators present, beating their own world records in the free program (137.09) and in cumulative score (229.82).
“It was a perfect comeback, a perfect season“, welcomed Romain Haguenauer, their coach since 2012. Guillaume Cizeron reacted to this fifth title with stars in his eyes: “Ct was a very nice event, we were able to share it with our friends, our families, our coaches. It was truly magical.“
For her part, Gabriella Papadakis evokes “a true celebration“, in “bonus competition” after the Olympic gold which was the real objective of the season.
Foot: Christian Eriksen takes care of his return with the Red and Whites
Nine months after his cardiac arrest during the Euro 2021 match against Finland, the Dane made a remarkable comeback with his national team on Saturday March 26. Entering the game at the start of the second half of the friendly match against the Netherlands, to the applause of the Dutch public, the attacking midfielder trained at Ajax Amsterdam found the net in less than two minutes. Eriksen and his teammates eventually lost 4-2.
Away from the pitch for more than five months, the former Tottenham player returned to training in December before signing for Premier League club Brentford, where he played his first post-accident match in February. The 30-year-old had a defibrillator implanted in his chest in June, allowing him to continue his career at the top level.
Entry into play of Christian Eriksen who celebrates his return to the selection with a GOAL!
Netherlands 3️⃣-2️⃣ Denmark
The game live: https://t.co/SFY8b6XzdH#lequipeFOOT pic.twitter.com/5pC97xoMgO
— the chain L’Équipe (@lachainelequipe) March 26, 2022
Rugby: Les Bleues start their Tournament with an improved victory
The bonus victories of the English and Welsh had given the “la” and put a little pressure on the XV of France of Annick Hayraud, on this first day of the Six Nations Tournament. Against Italy on Sunday, not everything was perfect after long months without playing together. After the very good work of the front eight, the balls struggled to reach the back lines in good conditions.
However, Gaëlle Hermet’s teammates managed to score five tries, enough to collect the offensive bonus. A successful introduction therefore, but which suggests the margin of progress necessary in the quest for the Grand Slam. Les Bleues will try to continue their momentum next Saturday against Ireland, at the Ernest Wallon stadium in Toulouse.
Cycling: Biniam Girmay already in history
He launched his sprint from so far that we thought he was beaten on the wire. Present in the good breakaway, Sunday, on the Flandrienne Classic Ghent-Wevelgem, the Eritrean Biniam Girmay finally toasted the courtesy of his three breakaway friends. At 21, the young runner thus signed the first big shot of his career.
Even better, with this victory, the runner from the Intermarché – Wanty-Gobert Materiaux team offered Africa the first major cycling Classic in its history. Enough to enter the legend of international cycling and to sow some seeds of hope for the years to come.
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Formula 1: Verstappen, the boss finds the heights
We left him in Bahrain, both disappointed and philosophical, last week. Max Verstappen didn’t need to hide his frustration this time. The world champion fought again on the track with Charles Leclerc on Sunday. But this time, his Red Bull withstood the shock, for a breathless final in Jeddah. Winner of the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, the Dutchman is launching his season. Ferrari will at least be able to console themselves with a new double podium: Leclerc 2nd, Sainz 3rd. To have its two single-seaters in the Top 3 of the first two Grands Prix, it had not happened to the Scuderia since 2001, an eternity.
How good was Max vs. Charles?! #SaudiArabianGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/e0Tdl9Kpm5
– Formula 1 (@ F1) March 27, 2022
Charles Leclerc remains at the top of the drivers’ classification ahead of his teammate. But doubt no longer seems permitted: this 2022 season should be punctuated by a duel between Ferrari and Red Bull. The Mercedes limited the breakage (George Russell 5th, Lewis Hamilton 10th) while his seven-time world champion had gone very far on the grid (15th). Esteban Ocon (6th) and Pierre Gasly (8th) also finished in the points.
If the spectacle of the last laps was up to par, F1 did not come out of this weekend in Saudi Arabia any better: the drivers did not want to continue the weekend on Friday evening, whenan oil depot located about ten kilometers from the circuit had been the target of an air attack by Yemeni rebels.
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