Lievin (AFP)

Already lacking headliners, the French Indoor Athletics Championships suffered a big blow with the Saturday package of the longest favorite over 60m hurdles, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, touched in the right thigh during the warm-up .

While all closed gatherings of more than 5,000 people have been canceled in the country in an attempt to halt the progression of the coronavirus, competition was not hampered for its first day, which took place in front a sparse public of around 2,500 people. However, the questioning persists for Sunday: 3,000 to 4,000 people are expected.

In this very particular context, between weak castings, reduced affluence and fears linked to the global epidemic, the defection of the European champion in the 110m hurdles did not help matters. With its unavailability, it is the assurance of a high-level race and perhaps a good time that was shattered.

"PML", multi-medalist in indoor (silver in 2014 and 2016, bronze in 2012 at the Worlds, gold in 2015, silver in 2017 and 2019 and bronze in 2013 at the Euro), had indeed achieved a very good time 7:47 am on February 23 at the Liévin meeting, very close to his personal best (7:45 am).

But there was no question of taking the slightest risk for the third of the 2019 Worlds in Doha, when the season promises to be very busy with the Tokyo Olympic Games (July 31-August 9) followed by the Euro in Paris (August 25-30).

"It hurts behind my right thigh, it's not dangerous or a big thing but if I had run today it would have been a bit silly, said the howler. It would have been useless to hurt myself for nothing. I could have run a series but I don't think I could have made a final. It would have held one race but not two. "

- "Confident" -

Martinot-Lagarde will now head for the open-air season with a great deal of confidence after his start to the year in the gym.

"I found myself in cadences that I had not known at the start of the season so I am rather satisfied with my winter, he explained. I do not hide from you that since the cancellation of the Indoor Worlds of Nanjing (due to coronavirus, editor's note), I have the head this summer. We no longer have the carrot and the same motivation. But I am rather confident for this summer given what I have shown this winter. "

The rest of its preparation is currently rather vague and will depend on the next developments in the epidemic linked to the coronavirus.

Without Martinot-Lagarde, there remains only Renaud Lavillenie, scheduled for Sunday, to ensure the spectacle in the French Indoor Championships shunned by most of the blue executives, already staring at Tokyo.

While waiting for the 2012 Olympic champion and without PML, the day on Saturday was very bland, the main titles going to Marvin René (6 sec 66) and Cynthia Leduc (7 sec 29) over 60 m, to Aurel Manga over 60 m hedges (7 sec 65) and at Ninon Guillon-Rosemary with the ladies pole (4.65 m).

© 2020 AFP