Sylvain Chavanel

Sylvain Chavanel it would retain its reach Yellow Jersey? This was the main question followers of the Paris-Nice on the eve of the 4th stage. Car presented itself this Thursday the justice of the Race to the Sun: the legendary Mont Ventoux. "Sylvain is rather nice, rather serene. We had not made the yellow jersey a priority on the Paris-Nice, we visions rather a step. Today, we will do everything possible to defend it, "said sports director of the team Cofidis, Francis Van Londersele, before departure given to Montélimar. Four thieves ambitious Inevitably, such an arrival gave ideas to some fighters, determined to reach the foot of Mount Bald with a maximum lead on the pack. Barely 10 km in the legs under a radiant sun that Kuschynski (Liquigas), Voigt (CSC Tiscali), Eisel (High Road) and Terpstra (Milram) decided to take powder escape. You will have understood, not least French in the first breakaway of the day. Geslin, Huguet and Edaleine had nice attempt to catch up with the coup, the Tricolores were indeed being trapped and four men quickly created a gap consequence. Although aided by a strong wind in the back, the escapees avalaient the first three days of difficulties, ranked 3rd class, well grouped and had even 7'15 lead on the pack at the exit of Valréas, 94 km from 'arrival. The timing by the bunch, led by the crew of the Yellow Jersey, in order to provide his effort. Riders of Rabobank, Robert Gesink, 8th overall at 21 seconds, joined them. So much so that the gap based like snow in the sun and fell even with the passage of 3'55 Bedouin just a short walk from the beginning of the ascent of Mont Ventoux. Gesink impresses Feeling the pack increasingly pressing, Jens Voigt placed a banderille 16 km from the finish which burst the group of 4. Behind, Gerolsteiner, Davide Rebellin, the race tightened at the earliest hectometres of the climb which was immediately major damage. A hellish pace putting in great difficulty Sylvain Chavanel. Despite the help of two teammates, the latter peinait to remain on the front line. Christophe Moreau, he rose to his own pace, without panic and playing yo-yo with the pack. Proof if proof were that successive accelerations ahead of the curve slow to bear fruit. The Quick-Step then took matters into their own hands. A new deadly attack in which Chavanel lâchait taken at least 6 km from the summit on a very steep. Followed quickly by Leon Sanchez, Verdugo, Rebellin and Garate, the four prosecutors Chavanel in the overall standings, victims shots of dozers Gesink. The Dutch flying on the slopes of the Ventoux with Cadel Evans on his rack, Schleck and Popovych, exploding in mid-air. Jens Voigt, glued to the asphalt, saw Thalys pass without reacting to 4 kilometres from the finish. The victory was played between Gesink and therefore Evans. Faster sprint, the Australian offered a success prestige but it is the rider of the Rabobank which makes up big today by offering the tunic leader of the Paris-Nice. Chavanel, he finishes very far, the 3'42 winner of the day…

Champions League

Since I arrived in Barcelona (in July 2007, ndlr), I can see virtually my daughter. I saw her five times in eight months. Only when it is there that I feel happy. "Thierry Henry has the spleen. He no longer felt himself and said in L'Equipe this Thursday. Since leaving Arsenal, the top scorer (44 goals) in the history of the French team is less effective: it has scoré than thirteen times since the beginning of the season, when he was an average of twenty-five achievements at this time of year when he played in England. Under attack, the attacker defends himself: "I have spent eight years at a club in a given position. Now I play in another club, and another heading in a different tactical scheme. "Since he joined Barcelona, Thierry Henry is moving left and is more defensive tasks. To his detractors, he said, "Stop compare Henry to Barcelona Henry of Arsenal! If you want to see, buy a DVD of the Gunners. "French The attacker does not affect the choice of Barça's Dutch coach, Frank Rijkaard:" I do not ask him anything, I do not complain. I respect his decisions. " "On the nerves" Sunday, he refused to take a seat on the bench after his replacement against Villarreal (defeated 2-1) and left the Nou Camp before the end of the match. "It's not something to do, concedes Henry. For a brief moment, I am on the nerves. I do stuff that I do not have the habit of doing. " The reason? We must look into the private life of the footballer. Divorced last year, he no longer sees his daughter, Téa, remained in London with his mother. He made this concession, touching, and very rare in the middle of the foot: "I often put my career before everything else. The fact of not having my daughter by my side makes me realize that there are things more important. When you do not feel in harmony in your private life, it's not always easy to give a good performance on the ground. " And when L'Equipe asked him what he would rather win trophy of the euro, the Liga, the King's Cup or the Champions League, the striker replied: "It's to see my daughter more often. I gladly give all my titles to make this possible.

league championship

LB: Govou and Juninho injured The midfielder Juninho and striker Sidney Govou are already plans to move to Monaco OL Saturday afternoon for the 29th day of league championship-1. The Brazilian Juninho suffered a thigh. "The review past Thursday revealed a muscular injury that requires between eight and ten days off," said Lyon coach, Alain Perrin. Captain Lyons therefore missed the trip to Monaco Saturday and the 8th finals of the French Cup against Sochaux Tuesday, March 19. His return should take place the following Sunday against PSG. Handicapped by tendinitis since the return match of Champions League in Manchester, Sidney Govou will be allowed to rest this weekend after a brief appearance against Bordeaux last Sunday. "We hope that finally heal his injury," said Alain Perrin, who hopes to rec.

DIDIER CUCHE

The Swiss Didier Cuche, who lost Thursday at Bormio World Cup super-G for a point in favour of the Austrian Hannes Reichelt, does not want it to his teammate Daniel Albrecht, whose 11th place was released of the fifteen best (16e) and the small private globe. DIDIER CUCHE, you lose a point, while the globe you tended arms ... D.C. "This is not the day I hoped for. However, the only one who made a mistake today (Thursday), c'est moi. Tactic I played. Initially, I knew that was Reichelt leader the race and that I should not risk everything to not venture out. I tried to be Tactically, I have been too. You can also search across the other races of the season this point that I miss. after o Daniel (Albrecht), the sport, he did not think, if he should leave, whether to curb. trains are as a team, but skiing is an individual sport. " In the situation of Albrecht, what would you have done? D.C. "I do not know, I have no idea. Does he know? Is it that he did not know? I do not want to know. He skied its course and it 'there was not to think otherwise. Myself, I played Tactically, I did not take risks. Above, I felt that it went with lines safe, but at the bottom, I did not think that I would be so far. When I saw my ranking at the finish (12th), I told myself that it would not (there were six riders to spend). The only idiot on the mountain today, it was me. " You want, is it not? D.C. "I am disappointed with myself. I got a little bitter that puts a little shadow over my world down. But I did twelve podiums in the season, surpassed 1200 points in World Cup win in Kitzbühel downhill and I am full at the end of the season ... Two weeks ago, Lanzinger (Matthias) lost the bottom of his leg. globe So globe or not, it's not going to change me, it does not make me more or less happy in two weeks, when everything will be forgotten. must be relative. "

Peugeot defies Audi

The new endurance season opens this weekend with the 12 Hours of Sebring. FEEL THE HEAT! The bumpy circuit of Florida will be the first theatre announced duel between Audi and Peugeot, kings diesel. Master of places since 2000, the manufacturer would continue its series, and climb to its R10 Lion still has a margin on the 908. Audi will have the advantage of numbers with two cars at a Peugeot. Wednesday, Audi and Peugeot were neck and neck during the first free tests, the R10 of McNish-Capello, Kristensen (1'45 "491) ahead of very few of the 908-Minassian Sarrazin-Lamy (1'45" 508) . The departure of the 12 Hours of Sebring will be Saturday at 16:00 (French time). Peugeot defies Audi It is spring! The wind blew strong in the garages teams of endurance and the season that opens at Sebring promises a lot. If all the players believe in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the party starts in Florida where Audi and Peugeot argue their first pions. Confident of his strength, the giant of Ingolstadt awaits the 908 HDi FAP hard. It must be said that no one has as much experience as the German manufacturer remaining on 8 consecutive success at Sebring. But Peugeot has shown during winter testing on this circuit atypical (editor's note: former military airport) that his car was faster than the Audi R10 (1'42 "801 against 1'43" 639). "This track is very different from the modern European circuits, said Stephane Sarrazin very comfortable here. Especially bumpy in some places but after the first few laps the car has proved to be fairly well adapted and we were very pleasantly surprised by the performance that we were able to achieve, demonstrate once again that the chassis of the 908 HDi FAP is excellent. " Nothing really since the nine Lion had already made his fleetness speak at Le Mans before crack at the pace set by the German protos. The problem is the same this year: Peugeot will he drive as fast as the Audi for 12 hours on bumpy pavement hyper? It is in this direction that Michel Barge, head of Peugeot Sport, has launched its major work. Too bad only 908 will start ...

Champions League

Olympique Marseille was not the only one to weep bitterly its elimination of the Uefa Cup, on Thursday. The club Olympian, unable to escape the trap of St. Petersburg, has not been equally frustrated that the two English clubs, Everton and Tottenham. Indeed, if the French champions out of the competition on a defeat, this is not the case with Toffees and Spurs. Defeated on the way these two teams have managed to surpass themselves to rebuild their overdue and necessary to return, but they did not bowl in the lottery of shots on goal, leaving at Fiorentina and PSV Eindhoven great honour to qualify. At Goodison Park, Everton has managed a superb performance by dominating the Viola brilliantly. Andy Johnson and Mikel Arteta have allowed their team to believe a feat long until Sebastien Frey leaves the big game with shots on goal. Regarding, Tottenham, his performance was just as remarkable, especially as it is outside their bases that Londoners have managed to prevail. Unfortunately for them, but registered by Dimitar Berbatov during regulation time has ultimately been useless. Pascal Chimbonda missed his shot on goal, thereby guilty, despite itself, the elimination of his own. Grand favorite of the Uefa Cup, the Bayern Munich bowed face Anderlecht (2-1). However, this setback has not been detrimental to the Bavarians to the victors go to Belgium on the broad scored five goals to one. The Brazilian Lucio had opened the scoring in the meeting before the return Mauves are outraged and prevail through the achievements of Serhat Akin and Aleksander Yakovenko. Another German club has been invited to the quarter-finals of this competition. This is Bayer Leverkusen. Quarter-finalist last season, the training of qualified Skibbe at the expense of its neighbour in Hamburg. Defeated 3 to 2, it has gone through its goals inscribed on the outside, following his success in the short go 0 to 1. Sergej Barbarez and Theofanis Gekas were the two goalscorers Bayer, while Piotr Trochowski, Jose Guerrero and Rafael Van der Vaart had signed the three goals of HSV. In his stage Alfonso Perez, Getafe Michael Laudrup disposed of Benfica (1-0) for the second time. Victorious thanks to a goal by Juan Albin, the formation of the outskirts of the city qualifies for the first time in its history for the quarter-finals of a European Cup. It is also the last survivor of the Liga in this competition. The last meeting of the 8th finals of the return of the Uefa Cup will be held tomorrow and it will oppose the Sporting Lisbon in Bolton. With the move, England, the two formations have left a score on a goal everywhere. The draw will take place on Friday quarters on the side in Nyon, Switzerland, just after the Champions League.

Meeting issues

The last meeting of the VI Nations Tournament the first to oppose his second for a game that has been a finale. A term that is not suited to Marc Lièvremont eager to focus on single victory and the quality of play It is this last point which will be scrutinized at Millennium. A victory in the tournament did not izgublja but the conditions that surround it in considerably reduce its likelihood. Les Bleus are forced to win by at least twenty points difference, something they have managed only three occasions over the last twenty years. This quest seems unlike certainties in the game to be acquired. A bit more consistent face Italy, the French scrum is still at the heart of questions. To this was added last Sunday in key misunderstandings need to erase quickly. The massive return of cadres should move in the direction of greater cohesion. Landmarks in conquest and the focal points of the game, the French team will need in Cardiff. Because the Welsh are transformed since the arrival of Warren Gatland and his assistant Shaun Edwards. The players have not changed much since the snub lived at the World Cup. But the defensive rigor and the quality of the organization, in contrast, are radically different. The result of this takeover is evidence in hand with victories in England and Ireland. Three years later, Wales can expect to sign a new Grand Slam that seemed almost improbable at the beginning of the competition. The XV of Leek needs to clear a final hurdle. But it is sized for the Welsh in the process of feeding a complex deal at home to France. The birthplace of Lawrence of Arabia has beaten the Blues in Cardiff since 1999 on the occasion of a match preparation. And even this statistic back to 1996 under the VI Nations Tournament. Update on the numbers: No new conscripts and the return of old ones. The two axes of the selection of Marc Lièvremont give the XV of France looked more conventional. Two new small anyway had waived on injury, Yann David and Ibrahim Diarra. The injured, the Blues rely on others with Pascal Papé, Imanol Harinordoquy and Clement Poitrenaud. Elvis Vermeulen, in turn, left the box and found the group just as Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Thierry Dusautoir, William Servat and Cedric Heymans. Package last-minute Croke Park because of a stubborn flu, Huw Bennett returns to the heel after the interim provided by Matthew Rees. Warren Gatland has made a new change to the opening. Stephen Jones and James Hook compete in the job for several weeks and the player who will begin the Ospreys against France, the former Clermontois merely touches the bench. They said… Back home the Blues, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde does not formalizes before facing the Welsh: "It's been a great team. But we must not make a mountain either. These are the same players that there are one or two years. They are not aliens. It is not the All Blacks or the Australians. They have qualities and flaws, even if they apparently corrected much since the arrival of Gatland, "said the Toulouse scrum half to Midi Olympique. Hailed by the press Welsh for the discipline he has brought to XV of Leek, Warren Gatland is confident before playing the Grand Slam, "We have a historic opportunity and we want to grab it with both hands. We are confident. We worked hard and if we continue in the same spirit that at the beginning of tournament we can achieve a well-deserved victory Saturday. "

European Cup

Before arguing the sprint finals Oslo (11.30), Sandrine Bailly tells of the end of the season looming crucial for the Habs. As head of general, equal with Magdalena Neuner, the French politician knows what it has to do. SANDRINE BAILLY, back on this first mass-start Siberian. What happened exactly? S.B. : I was in a more difficult day, it means that I was in the drive! A stroke of fatigue, decreased concentration, and it does not forgive. The wind conditions have also made this race lasts. You seem to have completely turned the page of the World. Your results in Pyeongchang were fabulous and Khanty very good apart from that 20th place on the last day ... S.B. : That's true. I am not the kind to stay 10 years in the past. I am at the time and then, I move to something else and I am going to move forward. That's what I did after Östersund. The world championships is a game in a season. Playing a final globe, it is synonymous with a successful regular season, it is the most difficult and most beautiful in my eyes. It was noticed that your shooting at the beginning of trials in Russia were laid. What you do not affoliez on the carpet ... Have you removed the positive things in this? S.B. : When I firing rate, it is often because of the precipitation, a lack of discipline and concentration. When I get to have it all, I am at the top and my shots are naturally raised. A ski, you want the best high Pill. This shows that the form is there at the end of this season ... S.B. The form is there but also fatigue. I am doing everything possible to keep the energy I have left for the races. This is the end of the season, with travel, time differences and all races, I feel all the same that I have the same freshness that earlier in the season. But I know m'accrocher and my motivation is intact. Les Bleus - Simon Fourcade particular - have complained fart in Russia. Have you encountered any problems Sliding there? S.B. : I had no problem and snowboarders, my skis are very successful. Nothing to report on that side. From the perspective of the conquest of the globe, do you feel better than in previous years? S.B. : I can not compare. I feel at the moment quite serene. I know that the last three races will be arriving very hard. But I know what I have to do, I know what is at stake and I contemplated what might happen ... What is your most serious rival? Henkel Neuner or? S.B. : They each have their merits and faults, in the end, I can not designate one in particular. The match will take place at three. Until the end ... Marie-Laure Brunet impressive in his first season. What is your opinion on your compatriot? S.B. : Marie-Laure is very strong and has proved throughout the season. It has the head and legs and with his qualities that I'm not worried for its future. I appreciate it because it has the joie de vivre, with a smile and good humour and it is the most important! Finally, talking about the finals of the European Cup. It was learned that it was cancelled due to lack of snow. We know that this test you took to heart ... Do you have a word for the organizers that you know pretty well? S.B. : I have followed developments closely, I was disappointed to learn of the cancellation because I was thinking about all the volunteers who have worked hard for this, that's a shame ... but it is unfortunately the risks. It will be a next time ...

Bruno Derrien

The referee Bruno Derrien had challenged PAS arbitrators set up by the FFF and that he was demoted in Ligue 2 at the end of the 2005-2006 season. The Council of State has not heard and decided to uphold the decision of the FFF. "By judgement dated March 3, the State Council has just given because the FFF appeal against Mr. Bruno Derrien who challenged the rankings of arbitrators of the 2005-2006 season and his demotion as a result of these rankings, "said the Federation. Former international referee, Mr. Derrien included officiated the finals of the French Cup 2005 (Auxerre, Sedan 2-1), but his calamitous performance in a match at the summit between Bordeaux and Lyon in September 2005 Chaban Delmas led him to arbitrate 'lower echelon since the summer of 2006.

Lampard is losing patience

Frank Lampard began to seriously lose patience at the slow renewal of his contract at Chelsea advance. The midfielder International English, Frank Lampard, has confessed to the English press that his patience was beginning to reach its limits. The player is still awaiting the decision of leaders Chelsea on the renewal of his contract: "I was warned several times by the leaders that the club would come to see me and they have not done so. This means that I will have to wait until the summer and I do not understand what this means, "explqué Lampard .

Strasbourg-Furlan: "I can start tomorrow"

This season, Jean-Marc Furlan releases his stripes coach of a team in Ligue 1 in Strasbourg. Successor of Jean-Pierre Papin, the technician french struggling to maintain at the end of this season but would stress the extent to which the Alsatians are not aligned with the elite in certain respects. "I am ready to stay here ten years, but I can go tomorrow. Much I like Alsace, but the Racing is complicated. People have a bad idea of the club. It has fallen behind on the incommensurable others, which puts us in danger every week. If the training center works well, at all other levels (structural, financial, sports, marketing), it is very, very late. Je does not open the umbrella. That is the reality. If you do not agree with this speech, I withdrew. Needless to get angry, "said Furlan