Australian cyclist Luke Plapp endured a harrowing crash during the Tour Down Under, resulting in gruesome injuries with his accident video viral
The incident occurred with 10 kilometers remaining in stage three, as the 23-year-old tumbled downhill amidst the peloton’s sprint towards the Campbelltown finish.
Cyclist Luke Plapp suffers horrific injury during Tour Down Under crash, accident video goes viral
Mi favorito, Luke Plapp 😔 envuelto en una montonera y muy afectado de su lado izquierdo. Aún así termino la etapa entrando a mas de 9' de Sam Welsford. Ya he empezado con el "gafe" de mis elecciones.😡😫 pic.twitter.com/fE7RI0aLcV
— Jesús Eguizábal (@jesus_egizabal) January 18, 2024
Following the stage, Plapp’s Jayco-Alula team acknowledged the unfortunate crash, stating, “Not the ideal day with a very unfortunate fast crash for Australian champion Plapp in the final 10km. He managed to finish the stage but with lots of skin lost. Cyclists are TOUGH.”
Despite the severity of his injuries, Plapp did not require hospitalization. However, the team expressed plans to closely monitor him leading up to stage four.
A subsequent update from Jayco-Alula provided more details on Plapp’s condition. While several riders were involved in the crash, Plapp’s injuries stood out.
Luke Plapp 🤕
Tour Down Under, 2024📸: Zac Williams pic.twitter.com/R876cBEQQW
— Cycling Pics That Go Hard (@cycIingpics) January 18, 2024
Luke Plapp Injury Update
Despite the significant damage to his jersey, Plapp resiliently completed the stage, crossing the finish line nearly 10 minutes behind the winner, Sam Welsford. His torn jersey showcased ghastly, bloody grazes from shoulder to hip, and his shorts were partially ripped at the thigh.
The team’s update highlighted Plapp’s encounter with the onsite medical team, revealing superficial wounds, a swollen elbow, and ankle. They stated, “He won’t travel to the hospital. We will monitor him overnight and make an assessment tomorrow before the stage.”
Notably, Plapp holds both the Australian national time trial and road race titles, in addition to winning a bronze medal in the team pursuit at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Who’s Luke Plapp?
For those unfamiliar with him, Luke Plapp, born on December 25, 2000, is an Australian road and track cyclist associated with UCI World Team Jayco–AlUla. His cycling achievements include winning the points race and Madison at the UCI Junior Track World Championships in 2018 and securing a bronze medal in the team pursuit at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Plapp joined UCI World Team Ineos Grenadiers in 2022 after riding as a stagiaire in 2021. His notable victory in the Australian National Road Race Championships in January 2022 marked a significant milestone in his career.
🚨 UPDATE:
After monitoring Luke Plapp overnight, unfortunately he will not start today’s fourth stage of the Tour Down Under due to discomfort & ongoing pain from a large amount of wounds.
Rest up Luke 🤕 pic.twitter.com/Uc1Iupi5oo
— GreenEDGE Cycling (@GreenEDGEteam) January 18, 2024