Monday news - post weekend blues - 13th October

The weekend that was

F1

Whilst many thoughts in F1 stayed with Jules Bianchi, who remains in critical condition in Japan, the race at Sochi in Russia went ahead.

The axis of evil?

Indeed, the weekend was not just uneasy because of the horrific Bianchi crash in Suzuka, but the sight of Bernie Ecclestone and Vladimir Putin, sends shivers up most people's spines.

However, the race did go ahead, and whilst the first few laps were eventful, the rest of the race was a procession.

The circuit was very unabrasive and meant that there were very few tyre issues, and that only one pit stop was necessary, even if that pit stop was on lap 1 for instance.

The circuit also played into the hands of the speed focused cars, and indeed the results show clearly that it was a performance based race, aside from Alonso and Massa, the cars came in 2 by 2, Noah would have been proud!

The main story of the race, was the very first corner. Although Hamilton had a good start, Rosberg got the run on him and went to pass Hamilton, however Rosberg was carrying too much speed and locked up both the front tyres and passed both Hamilton and the corner.

This ultimately cost Rosberg the race win, although the nature of the surface in Sochi, meant he could pit on lap 1 to ditch the tyres he'd shredded and go all the way on the harder compound tyre.

Massa did the opposite, started on the harder tyre and pitted one lap in for a set of softs, Williams must be ruing that strategy, as Massa ultimately finished outside the points, surely in hindsight, they could have started on the soft and pitted after one lap, and then gone all the way, a la Rosberg.

The other performances of note, were Button once again beating Magnussen, Alonso beating the Red Bulls and the dramatic fall of the Toro Rossos. Kvyat produced a great qualifying performance to start 5th, but by the end of the first lap was 10th. They clearly compromised race performance for qualifying, and paid the price.

Cycling - Paris Tours

Known as the sprinters classic, Paris Tours is the last big one-day race on the calendar, although the UCI may not agree, as it is only on the UCI Europe tour and not the UCI World tour.

Nevertheless, the race provides great intrigue, with a balance between sprinters fighting for one last win and the barondeurs, breakaway riders, taking a chance for a win.

Gurner par extrordinaire - Thomas Voeckler

It was the breakaway riders who prevailed, Voeckler and Jelle Wallays went in the early break, and were the only ones left by the end. A lack of cohesion in the bunch behind, caused by crashes, rain, attacks on short sharp hills and a lack of willingness from any team other than Giant-Shimano, lead to a straight out sprint between Voeckler and Wallays.

Wallays prevailed and Voeckler was left pulling faces. Indeed Voeckler ends the season winless, the first time since 2002. Voeckler also showed a lack of class but failing to turn up for the podium, and lost his prize money as a result.

Football

There was very little football on display on Sunday, I missed the match, although miss is probably the wrong word to use.

Predictably, it was a poor match, which in truth, most qualifiers are, due to the gulf in class between the sides in the competition. It is mainly a training ground exercise where England have to break down the other side.

Eventually Rooney prevailed with a free-kick in the 73rd minute, from the edge of the box.

Job done for England 6 points from 2 games, bring on the Premiership next week.

Rugby League

If the NRL (Australian Rugby League competition) showed the guts of Rugby League, with Sam Burgess playing the whole game with a fractured cheekbone, the Super League Grand final, showed the gutlessness, as Ben Flower of Wigan, retaliating to a forearm from Lance Hohaia of St Helens , knocked down Hohaia and proceeded to add another blow for good measure as his opponent lay stricken.

Flower was sent off for his reckless act,  and Wigan manfully took the lead, but ultimately St Helens won.