David Gaudu

This is the page about David Gaudu, a French cyclist from Groupama-FDJ. Gaudu has proven to be versatile with a podium finish in Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2021, two stage victories in the Vuelta, and a fourth place in the general classification of the Tour de France. IDLProCycling.com keeps a close eye on all news related to Gaudu, along with maintaining a biography of his career.

Gaudu: A young rising star in multiple aspects

Born on October 10, 1996, Gaudu was already recognized as a huge talent in his youth. In 2016, the Frenchman won the Tour de l'Avenir, but even a month before that, he was able to compete with the elite. As a 19-year-old, Gaudu finished fifth in the Tour de l'Ain among names like Sam Oomen, Guillaume Martin, and Pierre Latour. FDJ had already noticed him and offered him a chance as an intern. His impressive results earned him a contract for the following year. Gaudu impressed in smaller races, but it was in Milan-Turin where he showcased his ability to compete with the very best, finishing in fifth place.

2018 was a year of growth for Gaudu, culminating in his first participation in the Tour de France. In 2019, he continued his upward trajectory. A third-place finish in the UAE Tour presaged a strong season, highlighted by his first WorldTour victory in the third stage of the Tour de Romandie, where he beat Rui Costa and Primoz Roglic. A sixth place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a thirteenth place in the Tour, and an eleventh place in the Tour of Lombardy demonstrated Gaudu's rapid development at just 22 years old.

Stage hunter in the Vuelta and podium contender in the Ardennes

After another strong start to 2020, Gaudu aimed to make his mark in the Tour de France. He crashed in the first stage and struggled to recover from the injury, leading to his withdrawal in the sixteenth stage. The disappointment in France was followed by success in the Vuelta: after a slow start, Gaudu shone in the eleventh and seventeenth stages with stage wins. An eighth-place finish in the general classification marked his first top-ten finish for Groupama-FDJ.

In 2021, Gaudu made his presence felt in the Ardennes classics, securing a seventh place in the Flèche Wallonne and a third place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He entered the Tour de France with high expectations but couldn't fully meet them, finishing eleventh in the general classification, thanks to a strong performance in the Pyrenees. The Frenchman's autumn was solid, marked by a seventh place in both the Tour of Lombardy and the Olympic Games.

Gaudu fulfills promise as a GC rider in 2022, but faces challenges in 2023

In 2022, Gaudu finally proved himself in the Tour de France. Though he couldn't match the prowess of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, his fourth place in the general classification solidified his status as a genuine GC contender. He also made an impact in punch races: in the Critérium du Dauphiné, he defeated Wout van Aert on a challenging finish, and a top-five finish in the GP Montréal in the autumn showed his consistency throughout the year.

Consequently, much was expected of Gaudu in 2023. He started the year with an impressive second place in Paris-Nice, nestled between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. After a fourth place in the Tour of the Basque Country, he was seen as a challenger for the Ardennes trio, but he struggled with allergy problems. From that point, Gaudu's form dipped, and in the Tour de France, his primary goal, he had to settle for a nondescript ninth place following a feud with Arnaud Démare. His season then fizzled out, and Groupama-FDJ will undoubtedly be hoping for significant improvements in 2024...