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Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp undergoes emergency surgery after worrying crash during men’s time trial

Vaseline July 30, 2024

Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp is in a “stable condition” after crashing during the men’s time trial on Sunday morning (AEST), according to the Australian Olympic Committee.

He had to undergo abdominal surgery and is still recovering in hospital with his family.

The 23-year-old rider started the race promisingly, despite the wet conditions that made the race terribly difficult and dangerous. However, after the 13.1-kilometer checkpoint, he fell off his bike and crashed to the ground.

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He had set the fourth fastest time up to that point.

Disturbing images of the injured cyclist appeared on social media, showing him trying to get back on his feet immediately after the crash.

The video was so shocking that some asked for it not to be shared.

“Get well soon Luke Plapp, I’m so bummed,” someone said.

“He said in an interview that he has been on the time trial bike every day since the Giro d’Italia. Everything. Please don’t post a video of him after his crash, not nice to see.”

Luke Plapp is recovering in hospital from surgery. Credit: Instagram

Plapp’s parents and the Australian team doctor met him at the hospital.

The AOC said more information would be shared as it became available.

The young Australian was one of two competitors who did not finish the race due to the slippery course.

Earlier it was Australian star Grace Brown who stole the show with a convincing performance, winning gold in the women’s time trial.

After years of near misses in major time trials, the 32-year-old Australian cyclist dominated the 32.4km event in tough conditions to win her country’s first gold medal at the Games.

Brown rose above the rain and put previous disappointments behind her to achieve the biggest victory of her career.

In the last two World Championship time trials she finished second with a few seconds lead.

She also missed the podium at the Olympic Games in Tokyo by seven seconds, finishing fourth.

On Saturday she won by a whopping one minute and 31.59 seconds.

Grace Brown was the fastest and took gold. Credit: MONKEY

Brown will retire at the end of this season, ending her career as the first Australian cyclist to win a gold medal in the Olympic time trial.

She joins Sara Carrigan (2004 road race) and Kathy Watt (1992 road race) as Australian gold medallists in women’s cycling.

But more broadly, she reflected on what it felt like to be part of a club of Olympic champions that included Australian sporting icons such as Cathy Freeman.

“It’s a bit crazy. These are Australian legends … it’s hard to understand that other people see little old me in the same way,” she said.

“It may take some time to get used to it.”

“Insane” was how Brown described her winning margin, which was largely due to the fact that she stayed on her feet.

Grace Brown takes victory in the women’s Olympic time trial. Credit: MONKEY

American time trial world champion Chloe Dygert and Belgian road world champion Lotte Kopecky, known for her cycling skills, were among the big names who perished in the persistent rain on the streets of central Paris.

Dygert had to be helped off her bike at the finish, clearly in distress after landing hard on her right leg.

Still, she finished third, less than a second behind British silver medallist Anna Henderson.

“Maybe I’ve just been lucky a little bit. Some of it is good management, some of it is luck,” Brown said.

Brown led at the two intermediate time controls and once she knew she was ahead of Dygert, a known fast starter, the Australian’s confidence grew.

Shortly after the finish, she was able to celebrate with her husband Elliot and others on the Pont Alexandre III.

“It’s really a big step and when I think of all the people who supported me… who really believed in what I can do here and gave me the strength to go for it,” she said.

“Rewarding everyone with a gold medal is great.”

Grace Brown leaves with a great feeling as an Olympic gold medalist. Credit: Getty

But the gold won’t make Brown think about retirement.

“I can really be proud that I am saying goodbye on such a high,” she said.

And now the winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège can prepare for the road race at the Olympic Games on August 4 with little pressure and enormous confidence.

“I can just race a little more relaxed now, take it easy and see what opportunities I can take,” said Brown, who turned to cycling nine years ago out of frustration over injuries he sustained while competing in cross-country races.

“I have one gold medal and that’s pretty good.”

In the men’s time trial, Belgian Remo Evenepoel, who had just finished third in the Tour de France, finished ahead of Italian Filippo Ganna and compatriot Wout van Aert in third place.

– With AAP

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Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp undergoes emergency surgery after worrying crash during men’s time trial

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Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp undergoes emergency surgery after worrying crash during men’s time trial

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