"We do have a strong team" - David Gaudu doesn't give up on defending Red jersey in upcoming team time trial

Vuelta a Espana stage 4 will be a day to remember in the career of David Gaudu. Thanks to his impressive start to the race, all he needed to do on the sprint stage to Voiron was to arrive eight or more places in front of Jonas Vingegaard to take over the red jersey. And since the Dane wasn't particularly keen on keeping the jersey at all costs, the wish was met with reality and the 28-year-old will start in stage 5 dressed in red skinsuit.

"It definitely crossed my mind to take over the red jersey today," Gaudu admitted that the goal today was clear in a flash interview after the stage. "I just wasn't sure if I wanted to take risks in the sprint. That's always dangerous, but I ultimately decided to go for it. I had the support of my team. I really went all out in the sprint. It's an incredible feeling."

Gaudu actually hoped to make his move at the intermediate sprint - about forty kilometers from the finish. "However, I wasn't fast enough for the bonus seconds, but I could always have made it in the final sprint. I was able to rely on a really strong team. I can't thank my teammates enough. This jersey is for them."

To hang on to the jersey will be a difficult task for Gaudu as a team time trial awaits riders in stage 5. Groupama - FDJ have some formidable names for this discipline with Stefan Küng and Remi Cavagna, but will that be enough to fend off the powerful engines of Visma | Lease a Bike? "We do have a strong team for it," Gaudu declares confidently. "We'll just give it our all, and then we'll see if I still have the red jersey after Wednesday."