David Gaudu misses out on Ardennes classics due to bronchitis

After a strong start to the season at the Volta ao Algarve, David Gaudu has struggled with health issues that have now forced him out of the Ardennes classics which were his final goal of the spring.

Gaudu had been sick throughout Paris-Nice at a time where a significant portion of the peloton had came down with respiratory illness, where he failed to perform. His return at Itzulia Basque Country saw him near the front in the opening days, however as the race went deeper into the week Gaudu once again didn't manage to respond to expectations and ended up a modest 18th spot. Unknown to many was that he had caught a bronchitis, and the team said he did not recover enough to take to the start of Flèche Wallone and Liège-Bastogne-Liège where he was going to lead Groupama - FDJ.

With that, some of the team's other cards will step up as outsiders, with Quentin Pacher, Kevin Geniets and Rudy Molard expected to play a role in the race today as the team will have to manage their ambitions.

Groupama - FDJ for Flèche Wallone: Bruno Armirail, Kevin Geniets, Matthieu Ladagnous, Rudy Molard, Quentin Pacher, Sébastien Reichenbach and Anthony Roux.