The season is just beginning but there is already tension at Groupama-Fdj . The bolt from the blue came with the statements of David Gaudu who in some chat conversations on the Discord platform, later made public, criticized Arnaud Démare with harsh words, in particular on his possible participation in the Tour de France, where Gaudu will be the captain and will aim for the final podium.

"The fact that we don't talk or run a lot together is an advantage.   If you want, I can say it again to your face.   I'm not afraid of him.   He knows I don't want him on the Tour.   I already told him," he said.   Gaudu also makes some disparaging remarks about Démare's shutter speed.

Gaudu later apologized on Twitter: “I should never have vented these statements in public.   My apologies to the team and to Arnaud."

His statements didn't go unnoticed by the general manager of the team, Marc Madiot : "They're bullshit for children - he told Ouest France -. They're not friends, and that's fine, but I don't ask the riders to be friends, but only know how to work together. If problems arise, I will solve them internally, but I trust them. The case is closed, I have already spoken to them and in a month and a half they will both be at the start of the Paris-Nice" .

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