The leading local contender for the Tour de France, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) has said that he will be riding the upcoming Grand Boucle without any specific targets on the GC classification.
The Groupama-FDJ racer was the best-placed Tour finisher for the host nation in both of the last two editions, placing ninth in 2023 and fourth in 2022.
“We’re going to take things as they come and try to be more offensive,” Gaudu said. “If I’m eighth or ninth at the end of the first week, I hope I’d be able to get in the breaks, even if it means I then crack and drop back to 15th or 20th overall.”
After suffering one crash in O Gran Camino during the recon because of strong winds and another in Paris-Nice, Gaudu abandoned on the last stage with illness. He then crashed again in the Itzulia Basque Country and suffered a deep gash in his hand that forced him to abandon.
His luck turned around with a win in the Tour du Jura and after a lowkey ride in the Tour de Romandie, and a three-week training camp on Teide, Gaudu is now back in racing this Wednesday at the Mercan’Tour.
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