The Norman circuit of Saint-Martin de Landelles, rather reserved for punchers, did not necessarily correspond to his qualities as a climber. But the French Championships could have been a good warm-up for David Gaudu one week before the start of the Tour de France.
But his Groupama-FDJ team announced this Friday evening its withdrawal for Sunday’s race in the Channel. The Breton runner has indeed tested positive for Covid. He “will concentrate on his recovery with a view to the Tour de France”, writes his team in a press release.
Positive for Covid-19, David Gaudu will not start the French Championship on Sunday and will concentrate on his recovery in preparation for the Tour de France.
Tested positive for Covid-19, David Gaudu will not be taking part in Sunday’s French Championship RR. He will concentrate… pic.twitter.com/FVw37A1TA2
— Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team (@GroupamaFDJ) June 21, 2024
Gaudu, 4th in the 2022 Tour de France, is having a rather delicate 2024 season. He indeed multiplied the falls, first during the reconnaissance of the inaugural GranCamino time trial (February 22), then during the 4th stage of Paris-Nice (sacroiliac muscle and ligament injury) while wanting to remove his jacket on a climb – “a cadet’s fault” he admitted -, then finally during the 2nd stage of the Tour of the Basque Country at the beginning of April (ten stitches).
15 days ago, he only finished 15th in the Critérium du Dauphiné, without ever really weighing on the race.
