Another surgery delays Sarah Gigante's racing return

Sarah Gigante's return to racing will take longer following another surgery, as the AG Insurance–Soudal rider faces ongoing recovery challenges. Gigante had been anticipated to make a strong comeback after breaking her femur during training post-Tour de France Femmes, where she showcased her talent finishing second on the Col de la Madeleine stage and sixth overall.

In an Instagram post, Gigante explained the need for her recent procedure, stating that: "Thanks to the unwavering support of my team and some clever Belgian surgeons, we’ve finally worked out that my pain wasn’t coming from the fracture anymore, but rather from irritation related to the nail position and fit."

Given the severity of her injury in August 2025, it was not surprising that Gigante did not appear at the start line for the Australian season's opening races. She initially aimed for a return in March, but this did not materialize.

"Unfortunately after good progress early on, since December I’ve felt more and more like a hamster in a wheel, trying my very best and working so hard but getting nowhere. Two steps forward, three steps back gets old quickly," she expressed.

Although she logged significant training distances on Strava, March came and went without her racing debut, missing also the Giro d'Italia, a race where she had previously achieved two stage wins and placed third overall in 2025.

"I could do long rides... but anything intense was a different, and very painful, story," said Gigante, highlighting the struggles of her recovery. Furthermore, it appears the last Grand Tour of the season, the Tour de France Femmes set for early August, will also be unattainable for her.

Gigante remains optimistic, humorously adding that she hopes for some additional recovery time followed by a return to training on Zwift, wishing to close the chapter on her femur ordeal. "It’s a shame Sarah 4.0 has taken so long to load, but this time we’ll get there," she said, always keeping a positive outlook on her journey.