David Gaudu discussion thread

[JosephK]

Great showing by Gaudu today.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He really upped his game this year.

Nice showing today, I hope he can stay at this high level all the race and maybe be allowed to contest the victory from a break in the alps !

I think he's been very hit/miss this year to be honest. He was far below (my) expectations in Pais Vasco. He was invisible (and/or bad) in Dauphiné. But he was great at UAE, LBL and Romandie. But he was impressive yesterday.

 

[Chrispol]

He really upped his game this year.

Nice showing today, I hope he can stay at this high level all the race and maybe be allowed to contest the victory from a break in the alps !

I think he's been very hit/miss this year to be honest. He was far below (my) expectations in Pais Vasco. He was invisible (and/or bad) in Dauphiné. But he was great at UAE, LBL and Romandie. But he was impressive yesterday.

Heatstroke in the Dauphiné sadly. For Pais Vasco he said it's hard for him to resume competition after a long training pause. He said the same for FW wich will lead him to start Amstel as a team mate for Madouas next year instead of just riding Flèche and LBL.

He said today or yesterday that he can be use to put pressure on Ineos. I hope the team can send him at the front tomorrow. Perfect stage for him, but I suppose they'll wait for the Pyrénées and that Molard is going to take that role.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Alexandre B.]

8th on GC and two stage wins, I'd say it's a nice Vuelta overall.

He saved his best impression for today.

 

[Fuente De]

His season was fairly mediocre, with a disappointing Tour on top. In my eyes up until the Vuelta, but he really turned it out around here, and a great outcome with 2 stage wins and 8th!

This makes me very hopeful for him, and perhaps he can already fight for a GT podium next year? Fingers crossed, and I'm dreaming a bit. Seeing how french riders can mature in other GTs, I hope he rides Giro next year.

 

[yaco]

My guess is he will ride GC at a GT in 2021 - Which one is hard to assess,though I'd like him to have a crack at the Vuelta.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

My guess is he will ride GC at a GT in 2021 - Which one is hard to assess,though I'd like him to have a crack at the Vuelta.

He should at least try to ride a Dauphiné, PN, Pais Vasco... to win. A one week stagerace with no or a short ITT.

 

[gunara]

And he still have chances in one day race, too. Whatever the other guy can do, he seems to be able to do it too, except being 31 next year.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

My guess is he will ride GC at a GT in 2021 - Which one is hard to assess,though I'd like him to have a crack at the Vuelta.

I have a feeling FDJ will do this next season:
Giro: send Pinot with strong backing (reichenbach and molard)
Tour: build a team around Demare, give him 5 helpers. Give Gaudu free role and 1 guy designated for him (Almiral?). Let Gaudu go for GC as long as possible, if he fails in the Alps go for stage wins in Pyrenees.
Vuelta: send Pinot with strong backing

 

[Mayomaniac]

I have a feeling FDJ will do this next season:
Giro: send Pinot with strong backing (reichenbach and molard)
Tour: build a team around Demare, give him 5 helpers. Give Gaudu free role and 1 guy designated for him (Almiral?). Let Gaudu go for GC as long as possible, if he fails in the Alps go for stage wins in Pyrenees.
Vuelta: send Pinot with strong backing

I would love to see this.

 

[RedheadDane]

And he still have chances in one day race, too. Whatever the other guy can do, he seems to be able to do it too, except being 31 next year.

Now, being 31 is a skill that takes some years to master!

 

[Tonton]

I would love to see this.

I think you're up to something.

 

[Tonton]

Great Vuelta for David, in the winter, hit the track with Kung.

 

[McEwen2006]

I think you're up to something.

Those two ITTs definitely mean FDJ will trust Pinot more than Gaudu to fight for a podium in Paris, no ?

My prediction would be :
Giro : Gaudu for the GC
Tour : Pinot for the GC
Vuelta : Both in a free role, aiming for stage wins

 

[Mayomaniac]

Those two ITTs definitely mean FDJ will trust Pinot more than Gaudu to fight for a podium in Paris, no ?

My prediction would be :
Giro : Gaudu for the GC
Tour : Pinot for the GC
Vuelta : Both in a free role, aiming for stage wins

But with the season he had Demare has probably earned the right to be their main focus at the Tour.

 

[Bolder]

But with the season he had Demare has probably earned the right to be their main focus at the Tour.

imo best for tdf, but add Pinot as stage hunter. Winning sprints and mountain stages would be great publicity.Gaudu should start with Giro or Vuelta first and aim for top 5. Winning from the break is a LOT different from winning with GC placings on the line.

 

[Eclipse]

His season was fairly mediocre, with a disappointing Tour on top. In my eyes up until the Vuelta, but he really turned it out around here, and a great outcome with 2 stage wins and 8th!

This makes me very hopeful for him, and perhaps he can already fight for a GT podium next year? Fingers crossed, and I'm dreaming a bit. Seeing how french riders can mature in other GTs, I hope he rides Giro next year.

I think a podium is too early to consider for him. Definitely ended up having a great Vuelta but he was reliant on taking back huge chunks of time in breaks over the race to crack the top 10 and he'll not get that sort of freedom if he's viewed seriously. Need to see him do a strong top 10 out of the leaders groups before thinking realistically about a podium challenge unless he makes a big jump.

 

[McEwen2006]

I think a podium is too early to consider for him. Definitely ended up having a great Vuelta but he was reliant on taking back huge chunks of time in breaks over the race to crack the top 10 and he'll not get that sort of freedom if he's viewed seriously. Need to see him do a strong top 10 out of the leaders groups before thinking realistically about a podium challenge unless he makes a big jump.

Yeah that's what I was thinking too. Of course Gaudu is still young so there's room for improvement, but he was never able to follow the likes of Roglic or Carapaz in any stage I think. His 8th place is mostly due to breakaways, which is good since it allowed him to win 2 stages.

I don't think he's near Pinot's level yet.

 

[topcat]

Yeah that's what I was thinking too. Of course Gaudu is still young so there's room for improvement, but he was never able to follow the likes of Roglic or Carapaz in any stage I think. His 8th place is mostly due to breakaways, which is good since it allowed him to win 2 stages.

I don't think he's near Pinot's level yet.

Yes, he's still a bit behind Pinot's level. He's about the same level as TG Hart.

 

[cen]

Since last year's Vuelta, whenever I see Gaudu in the breakaway on a climby stage I know the shi* is about to get real. He is getting really consistent with these scenarios. Incredible ride today.

 

[Pinot's goat]

Gaudu seems to really suit high gradients as well, outside bet for LBL in this form.

 

[Escarabajo]

We have a new king of France!! Hail to the King!!!

 

[Skalman]

In the interview before today´s stage he said he always flopped on this stage, well not Today!!

 

[Lequack]

Great ride today on the last climb, basically solo held off all the chasers