Victorian cyclist Sarah Gigante has been selected to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, with the 20 year old included in the eight-rider Road Cycling team announced this week.
Sarah's selection continues her meteoric rise that started as a 6-year-old on a tandem at the Great Vic Bike Ride. Since then she has pedalled her own two wheels, both at the Great Vic and the national road titles. At the latter she took out the 2019 U23s road race and elite road race as well as the 2020 and 2021 time trials.
“It just feels so surreal to be named a member in my first Australian Olympic Team,” said Sarah.
“Going to the Olympics is one of those things I always dreamed of ... but it always seemed like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — something I hoped really existed but certainly something very far away and a bit of a fantasy!”
I can’t quite believe it, but I’m going to the @Tokyo2020 Olympics!! 🤩
There are no words to describe this feeling of an absolute childhood dream becoming a reality. It sends shivers up my spine & I can’t stop grinning!!
Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way!! pic.twitter.com/S9XTkkQsen
— Sarah Gigante (@SarahGigante) May 20, 2021
Other women riders joining Sarah at the Olympics road team will be Amanda Spratt, Grace Brown and Tiffany Cromwell. Grace Brown and Tiffany Cromwell join Sarah in making an Olympic debut, while Amada Spratt made trips to London in 2012 and Rio in 2016.
Riche Porte, Jack Haig, Rohan Dennis and Cameron Meyer round out the team. It will be Jack Haig's first taste of the Games and Richie Porte will back up his 2016 appearance. Rohan Dennis raced in 2012 and 2016, while Cameron Meyer will reacquaint himself with IOC proceedings for the first time since Beijing 2008.
The men's road race is scheduled for the first day of Olympic competition on Saturday 24 July.
The 234km course will start at Musashinonomori Park and finish at Fuji International Speedway, with 4,865 metres of climbing in between. The numbers are about the same, but there is no confirmation if the race is based on the Peaks Challenge Falls Creek course.
The women's road race is scheduled for Sunday 25 July with a 137km, 2,692m course. It also starts at Musashinonomori Park and finishes at Fuji International Speedway.
Alongside the road cycling team announcement, Alexandra Manly was added to the track team which was selected in March 2020.
Other women riders in the track team are Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker, Annette Edmondson, Kaarle McCulloch and Maeve Plouffe.
Matthew Glaetzer, Nathan Hart, Leigh Howard, Kelland O'Brien, Lucas Plapp, Alexander Porter, Matthew Richardson and Sam Welsford will compete in the men's races.
Track events will be held between Monday 2 August and Sunday 8 August, with Keirin, Madison, Omnium, team pursuit, sprint and team sprint all on the cards.
Mountain biking events will be held on 26 and 27 July. BMX Racing is slated for 29 and 30 July and will be followed by BMX Freestyle on 31 July and 1 August.
Bicycle Network congratulates all cyclists selected to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.
Click here to read more about sports at the Tokyo Olympics.
If you want to see for yourself where Sarah discovered her love of bike riding, entries for the 2021 Great Vic are now open. This year, you can choose from three ride options as we explore the Art Silos and the Grampians in Western Victoria. Learn more >