ROAD BIKE - 29 YEARS OLD
"Never look back, always look straight ahead!"
Raised at the foot of the Monts d'Arrée by a father passionate about mountain biking, David Gaudu was immersed in the world of cycling and the outdoors from a very young age. It must be said that with his boundless energy and his yearning for wide open spaces, the sport seemed perfectly suited to him.
It was to channel his explosive energy and explore his very promising potential that David joined his very first club at the age of six: the Landivisienne cycling club. During his annual holidays in Valmeinier in Savoie, he also learned to aim faster, higher, stronger (without wanting to spoil the rest of his career...). There, he experienced the legendary Alpine passes and discovered a vocation that has stayed with him ever since: he would be a climber.
And David is well on his way to reaching the top! His goal? To equal the record of his idol, the Spanish champion Alberto Contador, who is among the 7 riders to have won the three Grand Tours of road cycling.
Exceptional potential and a promising start
Scouted by the FDJ team since 2014 – the year of his first selection for the French Junior National Team – David caught the eye of his manager, Marc Madiot. In 2015, during a stress test, his VO2max was phenomenal: 92 ml/min/kg. These statistics might not mean much to you? Then trust the team's performance director, Frédérique Grappe, who declared that they were, at that stage, "unprecedented . "
Blessed with a powerful engine, David signed his first professional contract at the end of 2016 after his victory in the Tour de l'Avenir that same year – the benchmark race for up-and-coming international cyclists. Nicknamed "the Mosquito" because of his slight build and slender legs, he shifted gears and began to make a name for himself in the cycling world.
Since then, he has notably shone with a stage win at the 2019 Tour de Romandie, his first on the World Tour. Year after year, the young champion continues to surprise his peers with explosive performances. In 2020, he won two stages of the Vuelta a España and finished 8th overall. In 2021, he placed third in the Ardennes classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège, beaten only in the sprint by star Tadej Pogačar and rainbow jersey wearer Julian Alaphilippe.
Among David's many sporting qualities, his strong character and steely resolve stand out. Nothing fazes this runner, for whom instinct plays a crucial role in victory. Undoubtedly, it is thanks to his unique panache, reminiscent of the great champions of yesteryear, that his trophy cabinet grows season after season.
Wearing his blue-white-red jersey of the Groupama-FDJ team, David now dreams of making his mark on the roads of the Tour de France.
"I dream of winning the Tour de France”
Lieutenant to Thibaut Pinot during his first participations, he now takes on the role of leader and intends to do his team proud. Because now, the "Little Prince of Brittany" has all the makings of a champion!
Because great champions deserve equipment that matches their performance, Julbo has been supporting David this year, allowing him to focus on what matters most: winning. A daily wearer of prescription glasses, David had never been able to find sports glasses that offered both adequate protection and appropriate vision correction. Together, we created a pair of Ultimate REACTIV sunglasses in our RX laboratory, tailored to his prescription, to provide him with the widest possible field of vision without distortion, regardless of the direction he looks. Wearing Julbo prescription sunglasses increases his field of vision by approximately 20% compared to standard sunglasses.
“We sometimes spend more than six hours on the bike, and with the right glasses, we save on fatigue, I’m convinced of it. It’s comfortable for the head, for vision, and for the central periphery of the upper body. Every percentage point saved on fatigue is a percentage point more we can put into the ride. And every detail counts.”