National championships win has a special meaning for Luke Plapp: "It’s my favourite event in the world to be honest"

The road season officially opened up today and as usual it's in Australia that the World Tour riders put on their bib numbers for the first time to compete. At the Australian nationals, Luke Plapp has conquered the time-trial title for the third time in his career.

Winner of this very race back in 2021, and then again in 2024, it comes as little surprise that the Team Jayco AlUla rider succeeded. In the fast course taking place in Perth there was little competition except for Jay Vine who has been extremely impressive against the clock last year. But Plapp won the race, finishing the 38-kilometer course in 8 seconds less than his rival.

“I’m super happy with that. It’s my favourite event in the world to be honest, the national time trial championships. I love training over the summer here in Australia for this event and it’s super special to go back-to-back with the team," Plapp said in a post-race interview.

It is very much the perfect way for the Australian team to open up the season, they have also filled the rest of the spots in the Top5 and into this Sunday's road race, it is expected that there will be a similar outcome - although perhaps with a different rider.

Jayco is having a new set of colours this year and also a new big leader in home rider Ben O'Connor. Yesterday, it was revealed that Caleb Ewan however is not in the team's page and it is being rumoured that his departure may be announced soon.