“That was an insane day" - Luke Plapp left without reward for attacks on 'out of control' stage 6 at Giro d'Italia

Attacking and adventurous, Team Jayco AlUla's Australian National Champion, Luke Plapp was at the front throughout stage 6 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Despite finishing in the breakaway and at times having the virtual Maglia Rosa though, Plapp was left without reward for his ride.

“That was an insane day. The race was out of control the whole race, it was ridiculous for the first 80km and then when it had control, I was able to jump," reflected the 23-year-old to Team Jayco AlUla's website post-stage, after a brutally high-paced and frantic day in the saddle.

In the end, Plapp entered the finally alongside Julian Alaphilippe and Pelayo Sanchez, with the Spaniard being the one to take the win. "The three of us worked reasonably well to the finish, we played games a bit," Plapp says. "I was half eyes on looking for time and then half on the stage, so I ended up riding a bit harder than the others and they were sort of playing it out, but in the end, I’m happy."

"I felt really, really strong on the climbs, but those two are super punchy, so it was always going to be really hard to get away, especially on those short climbs, and I knew I wasn’t quicker than them in the sprint," he continues. "I tried to actually go on the gravel climb a long way out, but they were able to stay with me, and I was just glad we worked reasonably well together."

As mentioned, at times during the day, Plapp was into the virtual lead of the race. By the time Maglia Rosa of the Tadej Pogacar crossed the line however, the Aussie had gained just 29 seconds in the GC. "I knew they [UAE] were never going to let it go [the gap], you could see from the gaps they were keeping they weren’t willing to let the jersey go," Plapp rues. "I tried to be efficient and save a bit for tomorrow as well, but it was a good day, beautiful weather and it was a good day out there in the break.”