"Terrible guy": Gaudu faces criticism from ex-teammate after remarkable comeback

Brunel joined Groupama-FDJ in 2018 as a great talent after finishing third in the U23 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and winning the French U23 time trial championship. In 2019, he also won the Paris Tours for U23 riders, and a year later, he won the opening stage of the Ster of Besseges in what was pretty much his first professional race.

In the years of the coronavirus, Brunel was no longer able to achieve the results he had been achieving, but UAE Team Emirates offered him a contract for 2022. Halfway through that year, the French rider broke that contract and focused on other things. "We see a lot of potential in him, but we also have to treat him as a person, not just as a cyclist. That is why we accept his decision to stop professional cycling," said CEO Mauro Gianetti.

Brunel wanted to 'turn the page and focus on new challenges and experiences in his life.' Gaudu gave his twist to this on Twitch at the time. "What Alexys did was to play Padel at 3 PM and be sitting at home on his home trainer at 7 PM."

The rider took a year off and returned to the gravel peloton in 2024, where he enjoyed himself again. So, the desire to ride again grew, and Brunel went to ride for TotalEnergies. "I am aware of the opportunity and the 'second chance' that is being offered to me. Becoming a professional is difficult, but staying a professional is another story," he said.

"I am very grateful to the whole team, especially the sports management. The team is characterized by its attacking ability and teamwork, which motivate me. This choice is carefully considered. After I left the professional world for a while and never stayed far from cycling, I have rediscovered the passion and pleasure of top-level sport in recent years."

And so it happened. Brunel started the season well with a fourth place in Spain, but the icing on the cake followed last Sunday in Belgium. From a breakaway group, he rode at an impressive pace to victory in the Belgian semi-classic GP Monseré, to the amazement of the sprinters in the peloton.

Brunel used the attention he generated with L'Equipe to give Gaudu a piece of his mind. "I hate him". He made a fool of me during his stupid live shows. "A terrible guy. He thinks he's a champion, but he's not, says Brunel, who draws a comparison with Thibaut Pinot."

"David may have won races, but that doesn't make him great. Thibaut Pinot, on the other hand, is an idol. If Thibaut were on my wheel, I would give 1000%. I could have fallen to the ground," says the French rider, who is aware of the impact of these statements. "Those who have a problem with me should just come out and say so. I may be breaking the rules of cycling, but if you have no respect for me, I have no respect for you."