Marc Madiot: "Gaudu's comments were childish, but I'm confident it won't cause any further problems"

Drama has stirred at Groupama - FDJ this week as messages were shared over social media of David Gaudu showing his discontent over Arnaud Démare's presence for the upcoming Tour de France. Team manager Marc Madiot is confident however that there won't be damage from it.

“I don't ask my riders to be friends with each other, but to work together professionally. In a month and a half they will ride Paris-Nice together," Madiot shared with Ouest France. “Gaudu's comments were childish, but I'm confident it won't cause any further problems. If that is the case, I will try to solve it again.”

In a public chat on Discord, Gaudu has discussed that he and Démare were not friends and went as far as saying that "he knows I don't want him in the Tour de France and I've already told him that." The tension is clear, and both will be leading the French team at the Tour this summer.

Gaudu, who finished fourth last year at the Tour, is looking to have full support for the Grand Boucle, despite claims that Démare will however not have a leadout at the race. The duo's dynamics are not the best and the French team looks to contain the situation from further deterioration.