Gigante aims to make her Tour mark on Willunga climb

Sarah Gigante is looking to make her move on Willunga Climb in the Tour Down Under.

Fittingly the only time Sarah Gigante met Richie Porte was after they had won at Willunga.

The iconic cycling climb south of Adelaide is the defining feature of the women’s Tour Down Under this year.

Much as Porte, now retired, became the King Of Willunga Hill with a series of wins there on the men’s Tour, Gigante is excited by what is possible in Sunday’s final stage and its summit finish.

They won at Willunga in their races three years ago, when the Tour Down Under became the domestic-only Festival Of Cycling because of COVID-19.

“The only time I talked to Richie was in an elevator after we both won at Willunga,” Gigante said after Saturday’s second stage at Stirling.

“He said ‘well done’ and I said ‘thanks, but I’m a bit sad I didn’t beat your time.’

“He just looked at me like I was a bit crazy.”

Gigante goes into the final stage at 16th overall, 10 seconds behind new race leader Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig.

The 23-year-old AG Insurance-Soudal rider joins Uttrup Ludwig, the legendary Amanda Spratt and New Zealander Ella Wyllie as the main riders to watch on the climb.

But first the stage goes along the Willunga coast and rivals are certain to use any crosswinds to ramp up the speed and try to put a pure climber such as Gigante into difficulty.

“We’ll have to keep our eyes open and then if it does come down to Willunga Hill, I will be a ‘happy chappy’,” she said.

Gigante was among the leaders on Sunday at the national road championships and is returning to top form after two years of various health and fitness struggles.

Even last week bad luck still dogged her, with a mechanical problem cruelling her chances in the championships time trial.

But overall the Tokyo Olympian is at a new team and is relishing her resurgence.

“I feel incredible on this team, I’m so happy. I’m just having a blast,” she said.

“I’ve been training the house down. I’m so full of determination after the last couple of years and I just want to show I’m back.”

Newly crowned national champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Jayco-AlUla) is the top-placed Australian, third overall at three seconds.

After they dominated the nationals a week ago, the Australian-based Jayco-AlUla team has found the going tougher so far at the Tour.

New Zealander Wyllie looms as their trump card, but Roseman-Gannon says the threat from Gigante is significant.

“That steep section at the start (at Willunga), a rider like Gigante is rubbing her hands together,” Roseman-Gannon said.

“But with Ella Wyllie we have some options and it takes off the pressure a little bit.”