Paris-Nice (from March 5 to 12)
After the greyness, it is perhaps the hour of thinning for David Gaudu. Two years that the Breton broke his teeth on Paris-Nice, defeated by the falls. Two years without seeing the final finish.
At the time of putting it back on the “Race to the Sun”, the climber, undisputed (and indisputable) leader of Groupama-FDJ, is at a turning point in his season. “For his recovery in the Var, he was returning from training, and he was still a little winded (7th overall). He was missing something, ”recounts his sports director Benoit Vaugrenard.
Then the Vannetais framed David Gaudu last weekend on the Ardèche Classic (2nd) and the Drome Classic (4th). And he was reassured by the condition of his rider as he approached the first goal of the year. “I still thought he was in the run-in, but he was very strong. It was great David. These races were a good rehearsal, especially with the wind there was. Mentally, he is prepared to face conditions that he risks finding at Paris-Nice”.
“The presence of Pogacar and Vingegaard does not change anything”
Because the demanding weather at the beginning of March, between rain, cold and wind, promises, as every year, an uncertain test. “Paris-Nice is a special race. You can walk very well, then pass through it in stride, explains Marc Madiot, David Gaudu’s manager. In 1985, I won a stage, and two days later I was at home, sick. »
On a race that he has never finished, however, it is not so much the elements as the opponents who risk standing up against the 26-year-old Finisterian. At the start: Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Two behemoths which, according to Marc Madiot, should not prevent the 4th in the last Grande Boucle from aiming for “the top 5. The presence of Pogacar and Vingegaard does not change anything. If David has no problems, he will have a good race…”.
“When you have your status, you must not hide. Attitude is no longer enough, we expect results. And David is in the same state of mind, ”adds David Han, the Landivisien coach.
“You argue with your wife, and it gets better afterwards…”
The sporting aspect will however be added, implicitly, the question of cohabitation with Arnaud Démare. At the end of January, the Breton had scratched his sprinter teammate on social networks. Triggering a controversy which has, in part, overshadowed his first weeks of competition.
For the first time this year, the two men will therefore meet, and will necessarily be scrutinized. “They settled their case, I have no apprehension, assures Marc Madiot. Sometimes you argue with your wife, and it gets better afterwards…”
