At the start of the season, it was hoped that 2021 would be the year that Sara Gigante would have a full opportunity to compete on the European stage as a member of the TIBCO Silicon Valley Bank. However, after an early season fall sidelined her, she returned from Tokyo to face yet another challenge in her Olympic resurgence.

The 21-year-old rider, who will move from TIBCO Silicon Valley Bank to Movistar in 2022, suffered from severe chest pain and was hospitalized numerous times. She was eventually diagnosed with myocarditis. Myocarditis is a combination of inflammation of the myocardium and the pericardium (the pouch surrounding the heart).

After recovering, Gigante recently returned to her familiar Australian training grounds, where she has been exploring on an electric motorcycle, riding carefully again.

"I feel much better, but I have to be cautious and slowly get back into cycling," said Gigante in a statement from TIBCO-SVB. 'I'm a little frustrated, but very happy with my recovery and looking forward to racing again in the new year.'

"Thank you so much to Linda, Rachel (Hederman), my teammates, sponsors, supporters, and everyone on Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank for the past two years. I never wanted my time with the team to end this way, but it shows that this team is truly supportive. See you next year at the races."

Gigante signed with TIBCO-SVB at the start of the 2020 season and wore the jersey of Australia's elite national road champion from U19 in 2019.Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, entry into her home country, Australia The COVID-19 epidemic led to severe restrictions on entry and exit to her home country of Australia.

Things turned around in 2021, and Gigante moved to Europe to pursue a full season of racing. This time she was able to complete a six-day race schedule before the season ended. At La Flèche Wallonne, she suffered a major crash, breaking her collarbone, elbow, and fibula.

Despite this, Gigante was selected to represent Australia in the Olympic road race and time trial. Her 11th place finish in the Olympic time trial was her first major international success in the time trial, as she was a two-time Australian champion in this event.

She returned from Tokyo and was expected to return to racing with her U.S.-based team, TIBCO-SVB, but again that was not to be as she fell ill a few days after finishing the Olympic race.

"Sarah had been suffering from severe chest pains since early August and had to be hospitalized in Girona. It was an incredibly scary time for Sarah, her family, her teammates, and everyone who knew her."

Ryder was in and out of the hospital, far from home and family, and at first did not know what was wrong.

"The first few months in Tokyo were really hard. I never imagined that something like this would happen to me," Gigante said. When it all started, it was not good to be alone in Spain. But I am a very lucky person in that I have the best support network."

Gigante's brother and later her mother (who was facing the daunting task of Australian pandemic border regulations) flew in to be by her side. Also, when she returned from the race, her teammate and housemate Kristen Faulkner was with her. In addition, there were checks from other teammates and valuable assistance from the doctor's teammates. Frederick St. Gore and Dr. Max Testa

The Victorian returned to Australia in late October when Melbourne was freed from a prolonged blockade. It didn't take long for her to get back on the road, with the help of an electric-assisted bicycle, on the hilly training roads outside Melbourne and the outdoor velodrome at the Brunswick Cycling Club.

"It will take some time for Gigante to return to full-time training, but at this point we are pleased with Sarah's recovery," said Jackson of TIBCO-SVB. 'Heart disease is always scary and we were very concerned about her health. Sarah is an incredibly talented cyclist and a wonderful human being. We are so happy to see her smile again."

"The cycling world has seen only the beginning of what Gigante has to offer. It has been a very frustrating two years for Sara and the team, knowing what she can offer the cycling world. We will be sad to see her move to Movistar next year, but we always look forward to seeing her return to dominant form and results in the coming years. For me personally, I am greatly relieved that this young athlete is on the mend and will be able to move on with her life."