David Gaudu back in business

# David Gaudu Shows Promising Form at UAE Tour

David Gaudu of Groupama-FDJ United showcased a significant improvement during Stage 6 of the UAE Tour, held at the challenging summit of Jebel Hafeet. The French cyclist achieved a commendable ninth place, marking his first top 10 finish of the season and signaling a positive turn in his performance.

The day’s route for Stage 6 involved over 150 kilometers of flat terrain leading up to the iconic climb of Jebel Hafeet, which stretches 10.6 kilometers at an average gradient of 7%. The race began with a spirited effort, featuring a breakaway of nine riders, including Groupama-FDJ’s Johan Jacobs and Axel Huens. Team Manager Stéphane Goubert commented, “The plan was to go for the breakaway, and even though we knew it had little chance of succeeding, it was good to maintain good momentum, work towards what’s next, and prepare for other races where the break might have a better chance. Having two riders out of nine up there was perfect.”

Though the breakaway never gained a significant lead, their early efforts were beneficial for the team, allowing Guadu to manage his resources effectively as the race progressed. “Their presence at the front also allowed us to feed and cool David down at the bottom of the climb, especially as it was very hot today,” noted Stéphane.

As the climb went on, the field began to thin, and around halfway, only twenty riders remained in the lead group. Gaudu faced a momentary setback when Isaac del Toro made a decisive move, yet his strategy of not pushing beyond his limits allowed him to stay competitive. Stéphane emphasized the importance of this approach: “The goal was not to try to follow the very best at all costs, not to go above his limits, to manage the effort well and then fight it as if he was going for the win.”

Gaudu’s determination paid off with a solid ninth place finish, just 48 seconds behind the stage winner and only 12 seconds off the top five. “I had good legs, it feels good to be at this level again,” Gaudu expressed post-race.

Encouragingly, his performance allowed him to climb two places in the general classification, putting him in 18th overall. With a final bunch sprint set to conclude the race on Sunday, the spotlight is now on Gaudu to maintain his upward trajectory. “We keep moving forward, step by step,” Stéphane confirmed, embodying the team’s optimistic outlook.