Outsider for the world title? David Gaudu shows impressive form and wins Luxembourg queen stage - "I am extremely motivated and have a lot of confidence"

David Gaudu slowly climbed through the ranks of pro cycling and in 2023 he was the closest competitor to Tadej Pogacar at Paris-Nice - and above Jonas Vingegaard. Ever since, the Frenchman struggled a lot on the bike, but since the Vuelta a España the Groupama - FDJ returned to his very best form and took a strong win now on the final day of the Tour de Luxembourg.

The 15-kilometer time-trial and lack of big climbs in the race certainly made it hard for him to fight for the overall win against the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Marc Hirschi, Juan Ayuso or eventual winner Antonio Tiberi... But he was right up there when the peloton rode uphill. On the final day of the race he used his stunning form to make it into the four-rider group that escaped in the final 10 kilometers of the stage that would go on to fight for the stage win.

“I felt really good today. I got ahead with [Antonio] Tiberi, among others, who was really strong. I took a bit of a gamble, because he was going for the general classification. That way I could save some energy during the descent and flat sections," the Frenchman explained. “I knew it would be difficult in a sprint, so on the last climb I said to myself: ‘Go all-in for the last three hundred meters, all the way to the top. With the adrenaline, that will be enough until the finish.’ And that’s what happened.”

Gaudu attacked in the final ramp and neither Gaudu, Quinn Simmons or Jordan Jegat had a response to his sharp acceleration. In his last race before the World Championships, the 27-year old rode to a fantastic win; his second of the year after the Tour du Jura.

“I have been in good shape for a while, but on Friday it didn’t work out as we had hoped. But today I had a super good feeling, after having a hard time on the bike for a year and a half. I think there is nothing better for cyclists than crossing the line first," he said. He will be one of France's many cards for the World Championships now, together with the likes of Pavel Sivakov, Julian Alaphilippe and Valentin Madouas.

“We have a very good national team. I can’t wait to find out what Thomas (national coach Thomas Voeckler, ed.) will tell us during the briefing beforehand. I am extremely motivated and have a lot of confidence. After the World Championships, the Italian classics will follow. I want to use my good form until Lombardy, starting next week," he concluded.