After months spent rebuilding indoors, Sarah Gigante is once again riding in the high country of Victoria, using the familiar climbs around Bright as the next stage of her recovery from the broken femur that abruptly ended her 2025 season.
The AG Insurance–Soudal rider has been spotted training on roads that define Australian alpine riding – Mount Buffalo, Tawonga Gap and Falls Creek – terrain well suited to a climber easing back into sustained efforts after a long rehabilitation period. While she is now building on a solid base developed on the trainer, the emphasis remains firmly on a controlled, patient return rather than an accelerated comeback.
That approach means Gigante will again miss the Australian summer racing block, with her focus instead set on opening her 2026 campaign in March.
In a team update, Gigante confirmed that both her physical and mental recovery are progressing well, describing the return to outdoor riding as a significant milestone after months of indoor rehabilitation. The decision to delay her season start, she explained, was made in close consultation with team staff and medical specialists, prioritising long-term health and performance over an early return.
A disrupted but standout 2025 campaign
The broken femur suffered shortly after the Tour de France Femmes was the latest interruption in a career that has already required multiple comebacks. The injury ruled Gigante out of the latter part of the season, including a planned appearance at the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda.
Despite that abrupt ending, 2025 was one of the most impressive seasons of her career. Returning late after iliac artery surgery, Gigante delivered two stage victories and a podium finish overall at the Giro d’Italia Women, then followed it with a strong Tour de France Femmes campaign that underlined her status as one of the peloton’s elite climbers.
Those results came on the back of an already decorated palmarès that includes overall victory at the Santos Tour Down Under and national titles on both road and time trial, reinforcing her ability to return to top form after setbacks.
Experience with comebacks shaping the approach
Gigante’s career has been marked by resilience, and that experience is clearly informing her current recovery. After iliac artery surgery, she rebuilt steadily through targeted training, a process she has credited in the past for allowing her to return stronger rather than simply returning quickly. One symbolic marker of that recovery was setting a Strava Queen of the Mountain on Tawonga Gap during her previous comeback, a moment she has identified as confirmation that the surgery had delivered the desired outcome.
Now, with another rehabilitation cycle underway, the same patience is being applied. Missing races such as the national championships, Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is an accepted trade-off for ensuring she is fully prepared for her major objectives later in the year.
Looking ahead to 2026
With outdoor training re-established and mountain riding back in her routine, Gigante’s focus shifts to building consistency and durability ahead of a targeted March return to competition. While the early part of the season will pass without her, the broader goal is clear: arrive later in the year capable of competing for stage wins and overall honours rather than managing fitness race by race.
For Gigante, the pattern is a familiar one. Another comeback lies ahead, shaped by experience, structure and a long-term view – with the climbs of Victoria once again providing the foundation for what comes next.
