No Tour for Gaudu, who 'couldn't care less' about recent comments levelled against him
In an interview also revealing his absence from the upcoming Tour de France, David Gaudu has responded to recent comments levelled against him by an anonymous Groupama-FDJ United teammate, who told Le Parisien, "David has become an irritating mystery. He no longer has the fire, but he is the only one who does not realise it. And I can tell you that he has fewer and fewer supporters within the team."
Gaudu spoke to media at the team presentation for the French national championships on Friday night, telling RMC Sport, "I have no explanation (for the criticism leveled against me), I don't want one, and I couldn't care less about the controversy of the last few days!
"We are at the French championships and the goal is for the bleu-blanc-rouge jersey to return to the team, regardless of who wears it. I am still motivated; if I didn't want to, I wouldn't train, I wouldn't push myself, I wouldn't be racing. A chapter of my life has inevitably closed with the arrival of my first child just a week ago; you see things differently, but I still enjoy being on the bike."
The Frenchman said that the arrival of his first child contributed to his non-selection for the Tour, which Gaudu has not raced since his seventh consecutive appearance in 2024 – he had opted to stay close to home rather than head off to altitude training camp, and said, "I prefer to give my place to a rider who can go and help the team to win a stage."
Gaudu is under contract with Groupama-FDJ United until the end of 2027 having extended last year. However, RMC Sport reports that the French WorldTeam has lost all faith in the Breton rider, writing that he is "arrogant and a hindrance to the development of a team that is already struggling." The French media outlet suggests that the team would like to find a way to end the relationship sooner rather than later, and hopes that Gaudu himself might take the initiative.
However: "We have a contract that all parties have signed," Gaudu said. "I'm training, I'm doing what's necessary, and I'll see the contract through to the end."
