“Stage 10 was probably the hardest day that I’ve ever had on the bike" - Luke Plapp learning difficult lessons at 2024 Giro d'Italia

Just the second Grand Tour of his career, Luke Plapp entered the 2024 Giro d'Italia attempting to test his capabilities as a general classification challenger. After a positive start, the Aussie was sat 5th overall following the stage 7 ITT and wearing the Best Young Rider jersey.

Sadly for Plapp, it's been much more difficult going in the days since. “Stage 10 was probably the hardest day that I’ve ever had on the bike,” the 23-year-old Australian National Champion recalls in conversation with GCN. “It was nice just to get to the finish line but I really struggled. I got dropped really early and it’s been hard from being fifth on GC after the first week and then struggling to just make it through the race to be honest. For my goals for the rest of the season, finishing the Giro is also good for that. Even if can’t compete for another stage win then at least this is the best form of training camp.”

One of the big criticisms of Plapp in his attempts to ride for GC is his relatively poor positional sense. All the best GC riders in world like to keep themselves at the front of the bunch, out of trouble and on hand to react to a potential attack from their rivals. Plapp however, is often seen a lot further back in the peloton.

“For me, it’s more about calculated risks. It’s not something that I like doing but I can do it. When I know it’s worth being there and worth fighting for then I will,” he says of riding at the front. “But if it’s also not worth the fight or I don’t see it in my eyes, then I won’t do it. This year, especially with it being an Olympic year, that’s the reason I ride a bike and I don’t want to end a season on something so small. I’m super comfortable with doing it, but it’s about picking the times. We saw that in Paris-Nice on the last day when I spent the whole day in the front in the rain and on the gravel stage, I picked my moments."

Plapp does admit however that he's not yet ready for the full-on nature of riding GC for 21 stages. “You have to be consistent for 21 days and that’s not something that I can be yet. Hopefully, I can learn that over time,” concludes the Team Jayco AlUla star.