French · Landivisiau, France · Born 10 October 1996French cyclist and Groupama-FDJ team leader who has spent his entire career with one team, finishing fourth overall at the 2022 Tour de France as one of the leading French Grand Tour hopes of his generation.
Born on 10 October 1996 in Landivisiau, in the French cycling heartland of Brittany, David Gaudu joined Groupama-FDJ as a stagiaire in 2016, immediately impressing with a fifth-place finish at the Tour de l'Ain and the GC title at the Tour de l'Avenir. He has spent his entire professional career with the team, one of the sport's most loyal one-club servants. Gaudu initially served as a key mountain domestique for veteran teammate Thibaut Pinot, most notably setting the pace up the Col du Tourmalet to help Pinot win a stage at the 2019 Tour de France. As Pinot's career wound toward retirement, Gaudu gradually assumed leadership of the team, finishing fourth overall at the 2022 Tour de France and ninth in 2023, positioning himself among the leading French Grand Tour contenders of his generation. Gaudu recorded his best Monument result with third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2021, finishing behind Julian Alaphilippe and winner Tadej Pogačar. He has also finished on the podium of Paris-Nice and won stages at both the Vuelta a España and Critérium du Dauphiné across his career. Despite occasional difficult seasons, including a 65th-place finish at the 2024 Tour de France, Gaudu has remained a consistent performer at other Grand Tours, including a sixth-place finish at the 2024 Vuelta a España, continuing to carry hopes for a home Tour de France result as one of France's leading modern climbers.
Finishing fourth overall at the 2022 Tour de France and taking over as Groupama-FDJ's team leader from Thibaut Pinot
How They Played
Lightweight climbing specialist strong in stage races
Lasting Impact
One of the leading modern French climbers and a rare one-club servant in professional cycling
French Athletes