Time, patience and persistence have defined Sarah Gigante’s past months. Following her injury, the Australian climber committed fully to her rehabilitation, taking each step with care and long-term goals in mind. In this interview, Sarah shares how her recovery is progressing, what this period has taught her, and how she is preparing for the next chapter of her season.

Hi Sarah, how are you?

I’m doing well, thank you. I feel good both physically and mentally, and it’s really nice to be back riding my bike outside again for already a few weeks now after the past months of rehabilitation indoor. I’m feeling positive about the progress and excited about what’s ahead, and the plan to kick off my 2026 season in March.

How does it feel to be back training consistently after the past few months of rehabilitation?
It’s nice to be outside for sure, but I feel like I was training hard during the past few months of rehabilitation already. I would even say that it was more intense and more consistent than my normal training, because firstly, there’s no mental or physical slacking when you’re riding solely indoors, and secondly, I was doing a couple of hours of gym and physio five to six days a week on top of my cycling. Normally I only do gym two or three times a week.

Looking back, what was the most challenging part of your recovery, both physically and mentally?
The uncertainty and constantly adjusting plans were definitely the hardest part. I spent months training very hard on Zwift with early-season racing in mind, but as my recovery progressed, It became clear that the team thought it was smarter to give my body more time before returning to competition. Knowing that I wasn’t going to race even though the motivation was there, was mentally tough, but ultimately it’s a decision that gives me the necessary time to be ready for coming back in competition around March. 

What are you most proud of in the way you’ve handled this rehabilitation process?
I am very proud of my consistency. It was sometimes hard to keep showing up for endless sessions on my Zwift bike or to always be so diligent with my physio exercises, but I stuck to it even on the days I didn’t feel like it and tried to enjoy the process. 

At this stage, what gives you the most confidence that you’re moving in the right direction?
Getting stronger on and off the bike is very rewarding and reassures me that I’m progressing exactly as planned.

> The Australian racing block.

The Australian National Championships are coming up. Who’s the big favourite for you in the TT and road race?
I’m cheering for Anya and Alex most of all, of course! In terms of riders who’ll be tough to beat, I’d say Brodie Chapman in the TT and Ruby Roseman-Gannon in the road race.

How important was it for you to listen to your body and take a long-term view, even if that means delaying your return to racing?
It’s never easy, especially because the Australian block is my favourite part of the season. I would have loved to race Nationals, Tour Down Under and Cadel’s, but coming back from injury means you have to respect the process. Together with the team and medical staff, we decided it was better to delay my return to competition and focus on being fully ready for the bigger goals later in the year. It was disappointing at first, but I’m confident this patience will pay off and allow me to come back stronger.

> Looking back on the 2025 season

Looking back to your impressive last season, what’s your favourite moment?

My favourite moment was actually just a max effort in training in March. I went for a QOM on Strava and was able to beat my personal record up this climb by over a minute. It was the first time that I felt super strong and back to myself after my iliac artery surgery, and it was on that day that I knew the operation had worked and that I’d be able to make a great comeback in 2025.

Which lesson do you take with you from past season?

Last season reinforced that, even though the lows of cycling can be very harsh, with great support it’s more than possible to overcome the hard times and enjoy far sweeter ones that make the sacrifices worth it.

You rode a great Giro with two wins, the QOM jersey and third in GC. Was this a dream of little Sarah Gigante?

No, not at all. I didn’t grow up watching women’s cycling on TV apart from during the Olympics, so I barely even realised this whole incredible world existed. I’m very glad that the broadcasting of our sport has improved so much, so that now, young kids across the world can indeed tune in and dream of racing internationally themselves, or even just be inspired to go for a ride around the park. 

What’s still a dream of you in the future?

I absolutely loved competing for the GC podium in the Giro last year, so I want to continue pursuing that across the three grand tours. 

> Looking ahead

What do you miss the most about racing?
I miss striving towards a shared goal with my teammates and the satisfaction of seeing months and years of work come together. Training is fun, but it doesn’t quite replace that feeling.

What are you most looking forward to about returning to competition in the coming months?
Exactly that, working towards ambitious goals with my teammates and enjoying the thrill of pinning on a number again when the time is right.