Action man Sarkozy sweats it up on a cycling and beach holiday

Action man: Sarkozy rides off

He has been nicknamed 'President Bling Bling', but Nicolas Sarkozy left his usual flashy style at home yesterday as he worked up a sweat on the beach. After a busy year the French president could have been forgiven for taking the rare chance to relax. But instead he has spent the last few days unwinding with an energetic timetable of cycling, swimming and jogging in the south of France.

Today he again shunned idly sunbathing to join tourists on the sand at Cavalaire-sur-Mer.

Bikini-clad sunbathers watched with interest as the 53-year-old and his companions jogged at a fast pace along the seafront.

Mr Sarkozy donned a grey t-shirt, bearing the logo of the NYPD, which he teamed with black shorts. And under the hot sun he soon built up a heavy sweat as he pounded along.

The day before Mr Sarkozy had been joined by his glamorous wife Carla Bruni, 40, who showed off her tanned figure in a white one-piece bathing suit.

The pair soaked up the sun on a rocky outcrop, before diving into the sea for a swim at Cap Negre.

And on Friday action man Sarkozy pulled on some lycra shorts for a brisk cycle ride.

The photos of Mr Sarkozy's adventurous break are in contrast to those of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has been enjoying a two-week holiday on the Suffolk coast.

The notorious workaholic seemed relaxed, if a little self-conscious, as he enjoyed the weather with his wife Sarah and young children.

But his holiday wardrobe looked more suitable for Parliament than the park.

Dressed in black trousers and a smart jacket he stuck out from the casually dressed holidaymakers.

In a more suitable outfit of shorts and t-shirt Conservative leader David Cameron has also been making the most of the summer recess on a holiday with his family in Cornwall.

But unlike Sarkozy he kept his athletic pursuits to a gentle game of frisby.