"He was completely empty": Illness wipes out David Gaudu's Paris-Nice hopes

Everything changed overnight for Groupama - FDJ at Paris-Nice. On Wednesday, David Gaudu rode brilliantly on the difficult roads of Uchon to climb to 5th place in the overall standings. However, by Thursday afternoon, the team leader had stepped off his bike and abandoned the race. With his teammate Ewen Costiou also suffering terribly on the road, the team's goals for the general classification have completely evaporated.

Nobody expected Gaudu to abandon the race so suddenly. Sports Director Stéphane Goubert explained that the team is still waiting for official medical answers, but it was obvious that both Gaudu and Costiou had zero energy left in their bodies.

"He was not well. It is clear that it was radical. It is the same image as Ewen (Costiou). They really had nothing left at all. So we are of course waiting to see the doctor before saying anything. But in any case on the bike, David was completely empty," Goubert told DirectVelo

There were some small warning signs before the stage started. Goubert noted that Gaudu did not feel right when he woke up. "This morning, he woke up with a sore throat, after a bad night. That is all I know."

Because multiple riders experienced this exact same sudden loss of energy, the team management suspects an illness is spreading through the team bus. "Because when we see Ewen who is in the same state, we have to see if there is not a virus going around... In 24 hours, it was radical."

Before his sudden exit, Gaudu was showing great form. He has been working extremely hard this season to perform at a high level every single day. Goubert praised his rider's talent, but admitted that consistency is still his biggest problem.

"Yes, we feel he is progressing well. It's clear he's starting from a very low point, we haven't hidden that from anyone. He works hard, very hard, to find regularity again. The level, he has, he proved it yesterday. He proved it by winning a stage at the Vuelta not so long ago. But I agree with you, the regularity, he does not have it. We have to manage to find it."

With the general classification no longer an option, Groupama-FDJ United must change their plans for the rest of Paris-Nice. Goubert admitted they were hoping the dominant Visma team would let a breakaway win on Thursday, but that did not happen.

"It is clear that we hoped Visma would let go a little today and manage, and only target Saturday. They decided otherwise. They have every right to do so, of course."

Despite the terrible day, Goubert refuses to let the team give up. He highlighted the fighting spirit of Quentin Pacher, who suffered a badly timed flat tire but still chased hard to finish the stage. The team will now look to riders like Pacher and Rémi Cavagna to save their week.

"Quentin Pacher punctured at the wrong time. Then he came back, he fights until the end. So, that means he has the legs to hope tomorrow to be in the match for the stage victory. We will fight until the end."