Cycling: David Gaudu puts on his leader's clothes at the Classic de l'Ardèche - France 24

Guilherand-Granges (France) (AFP)

David Gaudu affirms his ambitions: the designated leader of Groupama-FDJ on the next Tour de France won on Saturday at Guilherand-Granges, with authority, his first victory of the season over the Classic de l'Ardèche.

"It allows you to fill up with confidence", savored the 24-year-old Breton at the finish, just after having sprinted ahead of his compatriot Clément Champoussin (AG2R Citroën), also author of a convincing performance for his second race. of the year 2021.

Despite the presence of Thibaut Pinot in Ardèche, the hopes of the FDJ rested on the other climber of the team.

And after finishing sixth and best youngster in his recovery race, the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var, the native of Finistère only waited a week to confirm his good form.

Leading the peloton from the first climbs of the day, Gaudu helped settle the race in the final 30 kilometers.

In the third and last climb to Saint-Romain de Lerps (nearly 6 km with passages at more than 10%), he broke away in the company of ten strongmen, including the Briton Hugh Carthy (EF Education - Nippo), third in the last Vuelta, or the recent winner of the Grand Prix La Marseillaise Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroen).

- "Come on, I'm waiting for the sprint!"

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If Carthy passed this summit alone, Gaudu and Champoussin swooped down on him on the descent and the three men together approached the justice of the peace, in this case the Val d'Enfer (1.7 km at 9.3 % of average), located 6 km from the line.

On the offensive on the narrow roads of this last climb, Gaudu managed to let go of Carthy, but not Champoussin.

The victory was therefore played in the home straight, where the leader of Groupama-FDJ beat his compatriot.

"I knew that Clément was going fast in the sprint, but I said to myself + come on, I'm waiting for the sprint +, anyway with the headwind in the final it was going to be impossible to get him out", said the winner.

He succeeds Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step) on the winners of the Ardèche event.

Gaudu will have the opportunity to do it again tomorrow on the second part of the Drôme-Ardèche Loops, the Classic de la Drôme (179.2 km).

And in the absence of Thibaut Pinot, who will continue to prepare for the Giro on Wednesday at the Trofeo Laigueglia, no doubt: the boss of the FDJ, it will be him!

© 2021 AFP