‘I don’t believe in it’ - Luke Rowe challenges descending coaches after Felix Gall’s Giro breakthrough
Felix Gall's problems on descents have followed him for years. Decathlon CMA CGM found a way to limit the damage at the Giro d'Italia, although Luke Rowe isn't convinced a descending coach would have helped.
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Luke Rowe has questioned whether specialist descending coaches actually improve riders, despite Decathlon CMA CGM spending considerable time preparing Felix Gall for the descents at this year's Giro d'Italia.
The Austrian finished second overall behind Jonas Vingegaard, but his difficulties downhill had been a concern going into the race.
Speaking on the Watts Occurring podcast, Rowe explained how the team approached the problem under sports director Luke Roberts.
"I just don't believe in it," Rowe said when asked about descending coaches. "If you're a good descender, you're a good descender."
He argued that most riders already know how to take a corner, but struggle to put it into practice when racing.
"But then in the heat of the moment, in a race, they just freeze."
Gall had paid the price before
Descending has long been a weakness for Gall. After winning the Tour de France stage to Courchevel in 2023, he admitted he had been worried about losing his advantage on the way down.
Earlier this season, the problem resurfaced at the Volta a Catalunya. Gall lost contact with the favourites on a descent where Remco Evenepoel was setting the pace, eventually conceding more than two minutes to stage winner Vingegaard.
Decathlon wanted to avoid a repeat at the Giro.
Roberts arranged for Gall to study video footage of every descent on the route, while the Austrian also rode several sections beforehand. Four descents received particular attention.
"On these four descents, you're going to have to descend full," Rowe explained.
"Prepare for it. Don't be surprised when you get to the top of the mountain. It might be wet. You got to go down the other side and you got to go fast."
Thomas challenges Rowe's view
Podcast co-host Geraint Thomas, who had earlier given a sharp assessment of Netcompany-Ineos' 2026 season in the same episode, wasn't entirely convinced by Rowe's assessment.
"I just think technically, I think you can, there's room for improvement with some people. Like I'm not saying this is Gall or Onley or whoever, but I think some people could definitely improve," Thomas said.
He also questioned whether Decathlon's approach would work for everyone.
"I think if you say that to some other guys, they'll just get even more stressed."
Rowe acknowledged that it depends on the rider, but pointed to his own experiences at Ineos and Decathlon as reasons for his scepticism.
"I never seen them go down a hill any faster or safer than they did before. I don't think it worked."
For Gall, the preparation appeared to pay off. He finished second on five Giro stages and took his first Grand Tour podium, before adding another at the Vuelta a España, where he finished third.
The 2026 season proved to be his last with Decathlon. After three years with the French team, Gall will join Lidl-Trek in 2027 on a contract running through 2029.
He leaves after the strongest season of his career, with his old weakness no longer costing him the sort of time it once did.
