It’s been a long time since we last saw David Gaudu at such a party! If he seemed to be doing better and better in recent days, he still remained a notch below the big names on this Vueltathe French of the Groupama-FDJ surely achieved his most encouraging performance of the season this Thursday in the finale of the 11th stage. In the main difficulty of the day, the Puerto Cruxeiras, the Breton climber managed to accompany to the summit Primoz Roglic (RedBull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Enrique Mas (Movistar), Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers), thus being among the six best on this climb to take back a few dozen seconds from his competitors at the finish for the top 10.He was sure that something was going to happen.”he reacted in his team’s press release.
Video – O’Connor finished 37″ behind David Gaudu on this 11th stage
“It’s good for confidence, but we will stay focused and motivated”
“I was prepared for a team to get going. I managed my climb, I didn’t try to follow Mas and Roglic when they left. I stayed with the others behind, and the further we went, the more I saw the leaders drop off one after the other. These moments really do good for the head. We managed to get back to the other two leaders at the top, then on the descent Roglic found a teammate.”explained David Gaudu, which paradoxically lost its place in the top 10, due to the rise of George Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech), present in the breakaway.
But the main thing was elsewhere for the native of Quimper, who certainly occupies 11th place overall, 5’55 behind the Red jersey, but has come close to his rivals. Enough to show confidence in validating the stated objective of the top 10, and perhaps even a little more ambitious if its rise in power is confirmed.I already had good feelings yesterday, better than the previous week and than what I have had since the start of the season. We’ve only done eleven stages of the Vuelta, there are about ten left, but it’s still encouraging. It’s good for confidence, but we’re going to stay focused and motivated.”he concluded.
