David Gaudu ends 2023 season after poor run of form

A year that started with such promise, 2023 has not turned out to be a successful season for Groupama - FDJ leader David Gaudu. As such, the Frenchman has decided to cut his losses and call an early end to his campaign.

First reported by the French newspaper Le Télégramme, Gaudu has opted against riding alongside Thibaut Pinot in the final race of his teammate's career at Il Lombardia due to the constantly disappointing results seen by Gaudu throughout the second half of the season. In Pinot's final stage race at the Tour of Luxembourg, both of the Groupama - FDJ riders abandoned part-way through stage 1.

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Thibaut Pinot abandons final stage race of his career partway through stage 1 at Tour of Luxembourg; David Gaudu joins him in leaving the race

Having started the season so brightly, finished second at Paris-Nice behind Tadej Pogacar and actually ahead of third-placed Jonas Vingegaard, Gaudu headed to the Tour de France with plenty of expectation on his shoulders.

Under the pressure of an expectant nation though, the Frenchman struggled to produce his best form, eventually finishing 9th overall. Still arguably the big general classification hope of French cycling, Gaudu will be hoping 2024 can be the year he comes good.

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