Rémi Cavagna claims a brilliant third place

# Rémi Cavagna Achieves Impressive Third Place in UAE Tour Time Trial

In a stunning display of talent, Rémi Cavagna secured a remarkable third place in the individual time trial that marked Stage 2 of the UAE Tour on Tuesday. The French rouleur clocked a time of 13:15 on the challenging 12.2-kilometre course, finishing just twelve seconds behind Olympic and World Champion Remco Evenepoel, and six seconds behind Joshua Tarling. This achievement marks Cavagna’s first WorldTour podium since 2023 in what is considered his specialty discipline.

Team Groupama-FDJ United had a strategic start to the race, as each team was allowed to determine their riders’ start times. “The first thing to consider was the wind,” explained team director Stéphane Goubert. “We had seen that it was expected to pick up later in the day, so the goal was to put our time-trial specialist first, meaning Rémi, and then our leader, David. It also suited us in terms of recovery ahead of Wednesday’s tough stage.”

Cavagna, who was the first rider to take on the course, set an impressive benchmark early on, with a strong performance reflected in his intermediate split time of 6:33. However, it was only when Evenepoel completed the course that the magnitude of Cavagna’s achievement was fully recognized. “Joseph [Berlin-Semon], Rémi’s coach, had targeted a slightly higher power zone in the first part,” remarked coach David Han, emphasizing Cavagna’s stability and strength during the ride.

Cavagna expressed his satisfaction post-race: “On a course like this, with perfect roads and not too many corners, you can go very fast — and that’s also why I ride. You had to push a big gear today, and I managed to hold it all the way to the line. I’m happy to finish quite close to the world reference in the time trial.”

Ultimately, none of the remaining specialists in the following start groups could surpass Cavagna’s time, ensuring he maintained his position on the podium. “It’s significant because it was purely down to the legs,” David said. “It should give him great confidence moving forward.” Reflecting on his past season struggles, Cavagna noted, “It was my first real test this year. Everyone knows I love this discipline, and it feels good to be back close to the top positions.”

Alongside Cavagna’s success, teammate David Gaudu also had a commendable performance, finishing 44th in the time trial. “I’m happy because the time trial isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but the sensations were good today,” Gaudu remarked. With a time loss of just 56 seconds to Evenepoel, he remained optimistic about future challenges. “We’re under that, which is very good,” Stéphane concluded regarding Gaudu’s standing as he prepares for the upcoming climbs.

As Groupama-FDJ United continues its campaign in the UAE Tour, the team’s focus and determination remain clear, with Cavagna’s significant result providing a morale boost ahead of tougher stages ahead.