Cyclist Sarah Gigante returns after 403-day absence caused by femur injury

Australian cyclist Sarah Gigante will compete at the elite women’s road race at the UCI World Championships after returning from a 403-day absence caused by a broken femur and complications from surgery. Gigante suffered the injury in a training crash after a strong 2025 season. She had finished sixth overall at the Tour de France Femmes and taken third place, two stage victories and the Queen of the Mountains title at that year’s Giro d’Italia Women.

Surgery was required to stabilise the fracture, but the pin used in the operation was too long and incorrectly placed, according to Gigante. The resulting pain continued for months until a second operation removed the hardware. She returned to racing at the Faun Tour Femmes, her first professional event since the 2025 Tour de France Femmes.

The race also exposed the dangers of the sport, with several riders suffering serious injuries in crashes, the ABC reported. Gigante has previously taken time away from cycling for treatment for myopericarditis, an inflammation of the heart, in 2021, and for surgery to correct iliac artery endofibrosis in 2024. She said the sequence of setbacks had been unlucky but had taught her how to respond to difficulties.

During her recovery, Gigante used indoor riding and made memes as a way to cope with the psychological burden of rehabilitation. She said she was now happy to be racing again rather than functioning only as a professional trainer and meme maker. The cyclist has signed a new contract with AG Insurance-Soudal through the end of 2027.

She jokes that each major comeback has produced a new version of herself, but said she hoped “Sarah 4.0” would be the final update. Gigante is part of Australia’s four-rider world championship team alongside Georgia Baker, Lauretta Hanson and Amanda Spratt. She said appearing in the elite national colours was a privilege, particularly after having only four UCI races in 2026.