David Gaudu on strong return to competition: "The goal is the Tour, not the Mercan'Tour"

David Gaudu returned to competition today at the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes where he was in direct competition for the win. He finished third on the day, however the feedback is positive as the 25-year old eyes the goals ahead.

I wasn't sure what my feelings were going to be, because until a month and a half ago I was bedridden and couldn't ride for more than two hours," Gaudu said in a post-race interview. After injuries took him out of the spring classics, he began focusing and preparing for the Tour de France, in which today he tested his form. "The feelings were good for a recovery, and I was happy with that."

Groupama - FDJ took responsibility of the race from early on, splitting the group on the Col de Couillole and having four riders in a restrict group of around 15. They didn't try to take advantage of their numerical superiority though, as they looked to drive the pace onto the final ascent in an attempt to take David Gaudu to the win. "We did what we had to do as a team. Even if we don't win, I think we have assumed our rank and weighed in on the race," Gaudu said.

He couldn't however respond to the accelerations of Jakob Fuglsang when the group further split in the final seven kilometers: “Maybe I should have followed him, but there was the risk that I would be countered by Woods. I come across a stronger Fuglsang, and that's it. I think we all had fun and we all reassured ourselves. In any case, a big thank you to the team," he reassured.

Gaudu will be leading a multi-pronged Groupama at the Tour de France, and he's stressed that there is a month still to Copenhagen and it would be less ideal to have top form today. “There is no need to panic, the goal was not to be 100% and win here, even if we would have liked to. The goal is the Tour, not the Mercan'Tour. And it also allowed us to see the great talents of Lenny [Martinez, who finished 8th]," he concluded.