Sarah Gigante on descending criticism: ‘I’m not the worst in the world’

Sarah Gigante has had a rollercoaster of a 2025 season as one of the top climbing talents of women's cycling has experienced a number of highs and lows over the course of the 2025 season, including memorable performances in the Giro d'Italia Women and the Tour de France Femmes. Meanwhile, Gigante had to face her 2025 season being cut short due to breaking her femur in a training crash, leading her to miss the UCI Road World Championships.

"I think a lot of it is just race experience because I don't really get the chance to race down mountains in pelotons that often, and I've had really limited race days," Gigante explained on the Domestique Hotseat. "I've been pro for actually quite a long time now, but if you keep having six months off between then you'll still be rusty."

The Australian climber, who has impressed, as mentioned earlier, with her uphill abilities, pointed to specific technical challenges that have affected her descending performance.

"I really underestimated the difference, but the race wheels, I mean, maybe it just sounds like excuses, but I think just things like getting used to the feel of the really deep dish race wheels that we race on compared to, you know, my tiny training wheels at home," she said.

Gigante then revealed that bike setup changes made by herself and the AG Insurance Soudal team after the Tour de Suisse, where Gigante finished 12th in GC, and before the Giro d'Italia, had already improved her performance, particularly regarding her ability to reach the brake levers.

"Not being able to reach my brakes properly in the drop. So I think that's something we adjusted after Swiss and before the Giro, and I already felt like that made a huge difference," Gigante said. "It's just the brakes are far away and I have little hands and in the drops it's just harder to reach the levers."

The 24-year-old believes the stark contrast between her climbing strength and descending ability has amplified media attention on the issue.

"I think all the media frenzy came because my climbing is already super good. My climbing and my descending, there's a big gap, it's not necessarily just because I'm like the worst descender in the world and that I'm slower than your grandma, which people love to tell me," Gigante said.

Gigante has already demonstrated her immense climbing ability in 2025, specifically in stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia Women, followed by a romping victory on stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia Women on the Monte Nerone.

Gigante also noted on the episode of the Domestique Hotseat that she has experienced an increased amount of negative online messages during her time in the spotlight at the Tour de France Femmes.

"The people that felt the need to message me like personally, privately or comment on my own post. Like, I'm sure if I went looking for hate, I'm going to find it. But like, do you really have to message me personally?" she noted.

Despite these nasty comments from individuals who clearly have nothing better to do, Gigante remains positive about the growth and trajectory of women's cycling and is focused on improvement.

"The coverage women's cycling is getting is so amazing and just growing and growing. But of course, that means that you get some of the downsides that come with more publicity. So yeah, I'll take it for the team. If it means women's cycling is getting bigger and better, then it's so worth it."

Listen or watch the full episode with Sarah Gigante via the links below.

🎧 👉 Listen on Spotify
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