One of the riders who had the hardest time in the queen stage of the Vuelta a Espana 2024 was David Gaudu. At least, so says the Groupama - FDJ rider, because what was seen was a great level of the Frenchman to maintain 5th position in the general classification before the final time trial in Madrid.
Speaking after the stage to Cyclism'Actu, Gaudu admitted he had one of his worst days in the mountains at the Vuelta, but was aware that he had to come out of Picón Blanco holding the top five with time trial specialist Mattias Skjelmose threatening to snatch the position in the individual time trial which rounds out the Vuelta a Espana.
"We had to give everything," began David Gaudu, who will almost certainly improve the 8th position he recorded in the final general classification of his previous and only participation in the Spanish Grand Tour four years ago. "I wasn't having my best day," added the Frenchman with surprise for the fans, because he finished the stage in 7th position after having attacked himself multiple times in the later parts of the final climb.
| Position | Rider | Team | Time | |
| 01 | Roglic Primoz | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | 81:22:19 | |
| 02 | O'Connor Ben | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale | + 02:02 | |
| 03 | Mas Enric | Movistar Team | + 02:11 | |
| 04 | Carapaz Richard | EF Education-EasyPost | + 03:00 | |
| 05 | Gaudu David | Groupama - FDJ | + 04:48 | |
| 06 | Skjelmose Mattias | Lidl-Trek | + 05:18 | |
| 07 | Lipowitz Florian | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | + 06:26 | |
| 08 | Landa Mikel | Soudal - Quick-Step | + 06:57 | |
| 09 | Sivakov Pavel | UAE Team Emirates | + 08:50 | |
| 10 | Rodriguez Carlos | INEOS Grenadiers | + 10:31 | |
| 11 | Dunbar Edward | Team Jayco AlUla | + 13:15 | |
| 12 | Yates Adam | UAE Team Emirates | + 14:06 | |
| 13 | Kuss Sepp | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 17:49 | |
| 14 | Rodriguez Cristian | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 18:24 | |
| 15 | Martin Guillaume | Cofidis | + 28:50 | |
| 16 | Fortunato Lorenzo | Astana Qazaqstan Team | + 37:28 | |
| 17 | Parra José Félix | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 48:14 | |
| 18 | Vlasov Aleksandr | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | + 53:22 | |
| 19 | Kruijswijk Steven | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 59:39 | |
| 20 | Berthet Clément | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale | + 01:01:57 |
▪️ David Gaudu conforte sa 5e place au général « Je me suis dit : « Il faut tenter le tout pour le tout, mais je n’étais pas dans ma meilleure journée de la Vuelta » ▪️ Thierry Bricaud : « L’envie était vraiment là, mais il a manqué le petit quelque chose » ▪️ Demain, chrono…
