Before each weekend, Le Parisien offers you a selection of issues and events not to be missed in Ile-de-France. Here are the posters, the places to go and the particularities of this sports weekend (excluding football) between the two presidential rounds.
The place to be: the Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium
FENCING. After the foil CIP contested in January, the room where PSG handball players regularly play finds fencing again, with the traditional Challenge Monal. Since 1938, this competition, which pits swordsmen against each other, offers a very high-level line-up with the world’s best representatives, including the French and of course Romain Cannone, the individual Olympic champion and current world No.
Beyond the prestige of victory, the Challenge Monal, which presents an individual tournament (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.) and teams (Sunday, 7:30 a.m.), is also an important sporting event. The Paris meeting will indeed be the fourth of six selective events for the European Championships in Antalya in Turkey (June 17-22) and the World Championships in Cairo (July 15-24).
The man to watch: Vincent Collet
BASKET. It’s a special meeting in the season, in its season. The trip from Boulogne-Levallois to Strasbourg on Saturday will be a sporting clash between two teams from the Top 8 of the championship, the revenge of a quarter-final of the Coupe de France won at the end of March by the Alsatians, but also an opportunity for Vincent Collet to return – for the first time – to the floor of a club he branded with a hot iron. And vice versa because Strasbourg is an integral part of the life of the Metropolitans coach.
For almost 9 seasons (from 2011 to January 2020), the coach of the Blues has actively participated in the development of the Alsatian club. He won two Leaders Cup (2015 and 2019), a Coupe de France (2018). During his tenure, he will also have reached the final of the Eurocup (C2) in 2018 and five times the final of the French Championship from 2013 to 2017. “It will be a special match, confirms Alain Weisz, manager at the Ile-de-France club and friend by Vincent Collet. There was a lot of joy but also frustration. No one has forgotten what he achieved there. »
This match will also be a last weight test before playing the knockout round of the Eurocup on Wednesday against the Italians of Venice on Wednesday in Levallois
The tournament not to be missed: the Tiby
HANDBALL. While the big ones will be opposed in a friendly to Spain, this Saturday in Chambéry (9:05 p.m.), the young handball players of the France U21 team repeat their ranges in the Pierre Tiby tournament, in Serris (Seine-et-Marne) . After the results of this Thursday (France-Norway 36-30 and Denmark-Egypt 30-32), two matches are on the program this Saturday: Denmark – Norway (small final, 4 p.m.), and the grand final between France and Egypt (6 p.m.)
This event has brought together several national youth teams for many years, who will meet face to face in a few years. A myriad of very great players have been there: Fabregas, Descat, Gérard, Mahé, Porte, Prandi and many others on the French side; Gensheimer, Hansen, Sagosen for foreigners. Many Ile-de-France residents (mostly from PSG, but also from Ivry, Créteil and Massy) will defend the colors of the French team led by Yohan Delattre this Saturday.
The challenge ahead: the Spartan Race
For the first time in 3 years, the Spartan Race, the world leader in obstacle races, is back at Stade France this Saturday. Hundreds of athletes from all walks of life will come to take up the challenge of the Stadion format, 5km and 20 obstacles, through the spans of this mythical stadium. It will be a question of crawling under barbed wire, climbing palisades, or even jumping over flaming obstacles…
Small particularity of this return: this event is also open to children aged 4 and over with a race format adapted to their age. The opportunity for parents to come and participate, accompanied by their children. Team sports enthusiasts also have their own format, thanks to the Hurricane Heat, the objective of which is to respond to the orders of a team instructor for 4 hours. Military atmosphere assured, for those who love.
The poster: Nanterre-Le Mans
BASKET. It’s the last straight line. The one where all the work of a season can be reduced to nothing or, on the contrary, turn into success. In six days the regular season of Betclic Elite will deliver its verdicts. We will then know if Nanterre has managed to win its sesame for the final stages. We should even know a little more this weekend since the band of Pascal Donnadieu welcomes (8 p.m., sports palace Marcel-Cerdan) Le Mans. A direct opponent for one of the folding seats for the playoffs.
The two teams currently share 8th place, synonymous with the final stages, with the same balance sheet (15 V, 13 D). But the Manceaux, winners (86-75) during the first leg, have a positive point-average. A victory of more than 12 points for Adam Mokoka’s partners this Saturday would therefore allow them to confirm their current return to form – two wins in a row – and to take an important step towards the Grand Eight at the end of the season.
The women’s team to follow: Paris 92
HANDBALL. No competition this weekend for the boys, due to international competitions. Before the French team begins its training course this Monday at the Maison du Handball, the Butagaz League championship has a scheduled day. This is an opportunity for the girls of Paris 92 to consolidate this Sunday their 3rd place in the ranking behind the untouchable Messines and Brestoises.
Opposed to Fleury-Loiret, the teammates of Laura Flippes, who is returning to the France group, will have to be wary of the red lantern. A month ago, Paris 92 was indeed surprised (34-35) on its floor by this same opponent in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, despite a thunderous comeback at the end of the game. Yacine Messaoudi’s players have a month to prepare for the double confrontation against Brest and Metz.
The program
BASEBALL. Division 1 (2nd day, Sunday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.): PUC – SAVIGNY-SUR-ORGE (Pershing stadium); Stade Toulousain-SENART.
BASKET. Betclic Elite (29th day). Strasbourg – BOULOGNE-LEVALLOIS (Saturday, 6 p.m.); NANTERRE – Le Mans (Saturday, 8 p.m., Marcel-Cerdan sports hall); ASVEL – PARIS (Saturday, 8 p.m.).
FENCING. Challenge Monal men’s epee (Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium, Paris 16th). Individual competition (Saturday, 9:30 a.m., table of 64) and teams (Sunday, 7:30 a.m., table of 64 if necessary).
HANDBALL. Tiby tournament in Serris (Olympes-de-Gouges gymnasium): Denmark – Norway (small final, Saturday, 4 p.m.) followed by France – Egypt (final, Saturday, 6 p.m.). Women’s Division 1 (22nd day). PARIS 92 – Fleury (Sunday, 5 p.m., Charpentier sports hall in Issy).
VOLLEY. Ligue A, playdowns (3rd day): LE PLESSIS-ROBINSON – Toulouse (7 p.m., Omnisports area).
RUGBY. European Cup (return round of 16): RACING – STADE FRANCAIS (Sunday, 4.30 p.m., Paris La Défense Arena). Nationale (24th day): MASSY- Chambéry (Friday, 7.30 p.m., Jules Ladoumègue stadium); Dijon – SURESNES (Saturday, 6 p.m.).
