Rider Profile
Luke Plapp
Jayco-AlUla
Personal Details:
Teams history:
- 2025 - Jayco-AlUla
- 2024 - Jayco-AlUla
- 2023 - Ineos Grenadiers
- 2022 - Ineos Grenadiers
- 2021 - Ineos Grenadiers
Biography:
Luke Plapp, born on December 25, 2000, began riding his bicycle as a 12 year old in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. As his career developed from the amateur to pro ranks, Plapp has gone on to win a trio of gold medals at the Junior Track World Championships in 2018, represent his home country at two Olympic Games (Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024), and secure five elite national titles (road race and time trial).
Plapp began his time on the WorldTour rider as a trainee with Ineos Grenadiers when he was 20 years old, having started the 2021 season winning his first elite time trial national title. That was the same year he helped Australia to a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in the men's Team Pursuit, and then won silver in the U23 time trial at Road World Championships.
In 2022 he competed on both track and road at his first Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, taking bronze in the Team Pursuit and finishing sixth in the men’s road race.
The next year he started with another Australian road race title followed by second overall in the UAE Tour. He closed his final season with Ineos with a GC title at Tour of Bright in December.
It was a big year in 2024 for Plapp. He had changed to the Jayco-AlUla WorldTour team and completed a historic hat-trick by winning his third Australian road race championship in a row, and added a second time trial national title, even having to make a bike swap.
After crashing in Tour Down Under on stage 3, he rode to a pair of podiums on stages at Paris-Nice and held the race lead after stage 4, finishing sixth overall. In his Giro d'Italia debut, he had four top 10s, including a third place at Rapolano Terme on stage 6.
However, all was not bright for his second Olympic Games, as he crashed in the time trial in Paris and had to have abdominal surgery.
Key Results
2024
🥇 National championship, time trial
🥇 National championship, road race
🥈 Two stages at Paris-Nice
🥉 One stage at Giro d'Italia
2023
🥇 National championship, road race
🥇 Two stages and GC at Tour of Bright
🥈 GC at UAE Tour
🥉 One stage at UAE Tour
2022
🥇 National championship, road race
🥈 Youth classification at Tour de Romandie
🥉 Two stages and GC at Tour of Norway
2021
🥇 National championship, time trial
🥈 World Championship men's U23 time trial
Related Articles
'A couple of good bits of luck away from an amazing year' – Luke Plapp wards off travails of 2024 to find inspiration ahead
By Simone Giuliani published
Interview An Australian build toward goal of winning in Europe and fighting for an overall top ten at a Grand Tour
Tour Down Under return for Australian champions Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Luke Plapp
By Simone Giuliani published
News Three time GC winner Amanda Spratt and three-time stage winner Sam Welsford also among Australian riders embracing chance to race in front of home crowds
Tour of Bright - Solo and a sprint settle stage 3 on ‘greatest mountain in the world' while Plapp, Anderson seal GC
By Simone Giuliani published
News Jack Ward seals rising star status with Men's A win in Mt Buffalo finale and local mountain biker Kathryn McInerney steals show in Women's A
Tour of Bright - A lone ranger, a crafty 19-year-old climber, Luke Plapp's TT resurgence and an unfolding GC duel
By Simone Giuliani published
News 19-year-olds Talia Appleton and Jack Ward climb their way to victory on stage 1 summit finish but Plapp and Alli Anderson clinch GC lead with stage 2 TT
Luke Plapp returns from Olympic Games injury at the Tour of Guangxi
By Simone Giuliani published
News Australian champion to chase GC for team at final WorldTour race of the season
Grace Brown and Michael Matthews to continue medal chase for Australia at Road World Championships
By Simone Giuliani published
News Plapp to line up in time trial if recovered, while Chapman, Bradbury, Gigante, Spratt, Hindley, Haig Harper and O'Connor also among team
Luke Plapp crashes in wet Olympic Games time trial, has abdominal surgery overnight
By Simone Giuliani last updated
News Update: 'Plapp slid under a barrier fence shortly after passing the first checkpoint ... his parents and an Australian team doctor were at the hospital with him' says national team
Australian champion Luke Plapp brushes Euro TT 'monkey off the back' as pursues evolving Olympic dream
By Simone Giuliani published
Interview 'I ride a bike for the Olympics. That’s the biggest thing for me and what drives me as an athlete' says Plapp as he heads toward Paris time trial with Giro-propelled confidence boost
Blogs
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Nathan Haas blog: Has the UCI done enough for gravel pros at the Gravel World Championships?
Sponsored gravel riders appear to be losing interest in the rainbow jersey battle -
Lauren De Crescenzo and her tough decision to miss UCI Gravel World Championships
In her own words, the gravel star explains the complex picture of the Gravel World Championships for the US team -
A proper women's race – Historic day in Emporia at Unbound Gravel
Extended gaps around women's start end with unprecedented sprint finish though 'it’s still imperfect, but it’s the best we can do for now' -
Road prep and adapting to new rules as Life Time Grand Prix begins at Fuego XL mountain bike event
Lauren De Crescenzo uses The Growler for confidence boost ride ahead of prestigious off-road series -
'Untapped gold' in store for inaugural RADL GRVL in South Australia
Nathan Haas calls gravel course 'raw, fast, exciting' after pre-ride with co-founder Valtteri Bottas