Sarah Gigante leads youth category after European Women’s WorldTour debut

CITTIGLIO ITALY MARCH 21 Podium Sarah Gigante of Australia and Team TIBCO Silicon Valley Bank Blue UCI Womens WorldTour young jersey Celebration during the 45th Trofeo Alfredo BindaComune di Cittiglio 2021 Womens Elite a 1418km stage from Cocquio Trevisago to Cittiglio 257m Mask Covid safety measures Mascot Flowers TrBinda UCIWWT on March 21 2021 in Cittiglio Italy Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Sarah Gigante (TIBCO Silicon Valley Bank) pulls on the blue jersey of the Women's WorldTour youth classification leader (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Australia’s Sarah Gigante (TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) has already made a mark in the debut race of her first solid international season, stepping into the blue jersey of the leader of the youth classification in the Women’s WorldTour at Trofeo Alfredo Binda.

The 20-year old rider, who already has a list of Australian titles to her name, came across the line in 23rd at the first European Women’s WorldTour race of her career, looking far more at home than in her previous short international forays and as if she’s carrying some of the formidable form from her Australian season.

"Tanja Erath and Leah Dixon were crucial in helping to position us early on, and then Lauren Stephens was a great road captain for Eri Yonamine and me as we got further into the race," Gigante said. "I tried to attack the last climbs in a last ditch attempt to catch the leaders, but in the end, we finished in a big group of chasers, with Lauren in a strong 16th and me a bit behind in 23rd."

It’s a season the Australian time trial champion, in an earlier interview with Cyclingnews, characterised as a year for learning and helping the team rather than results. However, given her regular position near the front, willingness to attack and place in the severely reduced peloton it looks like she is learning quickly.

Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) won the race on the hilly course around Varese after escaping solo, while the chase group of five swept up the rest of the podium positions, with Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) coming second and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig  (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) in third. Gigante came in with the next group of 27, which included many who had been considered strong contenders, including Strade Bianche winner Chantal van den Broek-Blaak and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio of SD Worx, Lizzie Deignan (Trek Segafredo), Amanda Spratt (Team BikeExchange) and Leah Thomas (Movistar Team Women). 

It’s a long way from the DNF that Gigante started her European season with in 2020, which was meant to be her neo-pro year but got cut short at three international races as the COVID-19 pandemic stymied her plans. It also lead to the cancellation of the early season international races in Australia but she made the most of a national road series replacement event, winning the overall and two stages at the four-stage Santos Festival of Cycling, and she also won the Australian time trial title for a second year running.

The rider, however, wasn’t expecting to swap the dark blue of her TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank kit for the lighter shades of the Women's WorldTour jersey at her first race in Europe in 2021.

"It's a special feeling to be in the lead of the Women's WorldTour Young Rider Classification too, which came as a complete surprise after the race," Gigante said. "Bring on the next one!"

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Production editor

Simone joined the team as Production Editor based in Australia at the start of the 2021 season, having previously worked as Australian Editor at Ella CyclingTips and as a correspondent for Reuters and Bloomberg.