David Gaudu delays comeback after allergy setback as Romandie becomes new target

David Gaudu’s return to racing has been pushed back after the French climber was sidelined by severe allergy issues, forcing him to withdraw from this week’s Classic Grand Besançon and Tour du Jura.

The Groupama-FDJ United rider had been expected to resume competition after a difficult opening phase of the season, but pollen-related problems have once again interrupted his schedule.

The 29-year-old from Brittany was originally pencilled in for a comeback in the French one-day races, two events considered ideal stepping stones ahead of a more demanding block of stage races. Instead, Gaudu will now aim to restart his campaign at the Tour de Romandie, scheduled from April 28 to May 3.

Team director Philippe Mauduit explained that the decision was taken to avoid any unnecessary risks and to ensure the Frenchman returns in the best possible condition.

“He suffered from allergy attacks during training,” Mauduit told Ouest-France. “We decided to remove him from the next two rounds of the FDJ United Series. It is better for him to be in the best possible condition before pinning on a race number again.”

It is the latest setback in what has already been a complicated campaign for Gaudu. His season has been marked by inconsistency, physical issues and another search for confidence after a challenging 2025 so far.

Earlier this spring, Gaudu abandoned Paris-Nice during the fifth stage, a day after brutal weather conditions and a powerful display from Jonas Vingegaard had shaken the race. He then lined up at the Volta a Catalunya, but finished 59th overall, more than 38 minutes behind Jonas Vingegaard.

For a rider who once appeared destined to become France’s next Grand Tour contender, the current period has been one of uncertainty. Gaudu has openly spoken in the past about the mental and physical struggles that can come with elite cycling, and this latest delay adds another layer of frustration.

Despite the interruption, Groupama - FDJ United remain optimistic that Gaudu can rebuild momentum in the coming weeks. Romandie offers a strong opportunity, with climbing terrain and a demanding route that should better suit his characteristics.

“At the Volta a Catalunya, he had ups and downs,” Mauduit added. “He is working well in training, and after the Tour de Romandie we will see what comes next in his programme.”

According to the team, the likely next options after Romandie are the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Critérium du Dauphiné ed.) or the Tour de Suisse, depending on form and race planning.

During the winter, the Tour de France had been presented as Gaudu’s major objective for the season. He finished fourth overall in 2022 and ninth in 2023 before enduring a disappointing 2024 campaign that led him to change direction last year, focusing instead on the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

Although he was not targeting the general classification in Spain, he still showed flashes of his talent by winning the third stage and briefly wearing the leader’s jersey.

Now in his tenth consecutive WorldTour season, and approaching his 30th birthday later this year, Gaudu enters an important phase of his career. The talent remains unquestioned, but the immediate challenge is clear: restore health, regain rhythm, and rebuild confidence before the summer’s biggest objectives arrive.

If Romandie goes well, his season could still turn sharply in the right direction. If not, questions around his trajectory will only grow louder.