Sarah Gigante terminates contract with Movistar by mutual consent

Australia’s Sarah Gigante has terminated her contract with Movistar by mutual consent and will depart the team at the end of this month, despite having a year left on her agreement, the team confirmed on Wednesday.

A former Australian national champion in both the road race and time trial, Gigante appeared to be one of the most promising emerging climbers in recent years, and moved to Movistar on a three-year deal at the start of the 2022 season.

However, the 23-year-old’s first seasons in the WorldTour have been hampered by injury, illness and a lack of racing, and Movistar confirmed that the two parties had agreed to end their relationship ahead of the 2024 season.

“Movistar Team announced the end of its contractual relationship with Sarah Gigante, effective December 31st, 2023,” a short statement from the team read.

“The mutual agreement, reached during the month of October, seeks for both parties’ best interest and further opportunities in 2024.

“Everyone at Abarca Sports wishes the very best to ‘Gigi’ for her future and thanks her for all the efforts made over the last two years.”

A strong climber, Gigante had once been touted as one of the next best GC riders in the peloton, and a possible successor to Annemiek van Vleuten at Movistar. Her debut season with the squad started strong with a victory at the Emakumeen Nafarroako Classic in Spain, but tailed off after various problems derailed her season.

She spent almost a full year at home in Australia in 2022 and 2023, spending relatively little time with the Movistar squad, and missing races like the Tour de France Femmes and Giro d'Italia.

In 2023, Gigante only raced one European event, the Tour of Scandinavia in August, having only returned to Europe in the summer. Most recently, she lined up for the Australian national event the Tour of Bright at the start of December, which she won overall after winning two of the three stages, and looks to be reforming to health and form.

However, it is not yet clear why exactly Gigante is leaving Movistar, or if she has a new team lined up for 2024. The rider has not yet commented publicly about the news.