Sarah Gigante returns to professional cycling after year-long injury layoff

Australian climber Sarah Gigante is returning to professional cycling after a 13-month absence caused by a serious femur fracture. The 26-year-old AG Insurance-Soudal rider will compete in the four-day Faun Tour in France, marking her first race since finishing sixth overall at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes.

Gigante’s recovery was significantly delayed by complications involving surgical hardware, which necessitated a second operation and multiple postponed comeback attempts. Originally aiming for a March return and later the Giro d’Italia in May, the athlete underwent extensive rehabilitation and expressed the mental difficulty of missing three Grand Tours during her recovery.

AG Insurance-Soudal sporting director Dani Christmas stated that the team is taking a cautious approach, noting there will be no pressure on Gigante during this milestone event.