"If I had to choose, it would be a podium in a Grand Tour": David Gaudu on his biggest remaining objective

2025 can be described as a rollercoaster season for David Gaudu. The 29-year-old started strong in Oman with a victory, but that positive momentum was thrown away after a crash during Tirreno-Adriatico. He started the Giro d'Italia with GC ambitions, which quickly vanished due to his poor shape.

He then started the Vuelta a España very strong, even securing a stage win and wearing the leader jersey. However, his GC bid was a failure once again, falling out of contention at the end of the first week.

With 2026 around the corner, Gaudu and his team Groupama - FDJ are preparing for it in Spain as most teams do nowadays. In the meantime, he gave an interview to Velofute where he reflected on what has gone wrong, what has changed, and what still drives him as he enters another crucial year of his career.

“It’s true that I’ve had quite a lot of bad luck,” Gaudu explained. “On the second crash [at Tirreno-Adriatico], I broke my hand. At Strade Bianche, it was a bit of both: wrong place at the wrong time, and a situation where I simply couldn’t stop. At the Giro, on the other hand, it was clearly my fault, I made a complete mistake.”

Beyond the physical injuries, the consequences were structural. “These crashes brought a lot of frustration, because the season had started really well,” he continued. “They also caused a big loss of training volume. To get back to a good level, intensity matters, but volume is essential, and that’s where it was missing. That’s why the season was complicated overall.”

The winter has helped him to recover physically and mentally. “I’m where I want to be. There have been quite a few changes within the team, but I had an excellent training camp. I didn’t get sick, I went home to see my family for the holidays, and I feel good.”

The collective atmosphere within the Groupama - FDJ seems to be positive as well, which always helps. “The whole team worked very well, riders and staff alike. In December, the lights are a bit green everywhere. The hardest thing is staying healthy and putting in the hours. January will be a very important month.”

Asked directly about his sensations, Gaudu remained cautiously positive. “It’s December, I’ve done the volumes I wanted, I didn’t get sick, so all the lights are green to keep preparing in the best possible way.”

Despite 13 professional wins and strong overall placings, Gaudu knows what is still missing from his palmarès. “If I had to choose one great performance before the end of my career, it would be a podium in a Grand Tour.”

Few French riders attract as much scrutiny during the Tour de France as Gaudu, something he accepts as part of the role. “There will always be criticism, but you can’t please everyone. The Tour is the biggest race in the world, and for a French team, it’s normal to line up the best riders.”

“When you’re one of the riders capable of aiming for a top ten overall, it’s logical that people ask you to take on that role,” Gaudu added. And yes, I like that, because general classifications are what have always excited me. It’s in my nature,” he concluded.