Jayco AlUla’s Luke Plapp completed the third stage of the Tour Down Under with visible injuries resulting from a crash near the finish in Campbelltown. Upon arrival, the Australian cyclist immediately went to the medical tent to receive treatment, arriving around 10 minutes after the winner, Sam Welsford.
Photos of the accident revealed that Plapp was up and walking, although his skinsuit was considerably torn and had bloody scratches on his left side and shoulder. The extent of the injuries raises doubts about his participation in the fourth stage, scheduled for Friday.
The local medical team evaluated Plapp at the finish line, identifying superficial injuries and swelling in the elbow and ankle. A statement from the Jayco AlUla team said he will not be taken to hospital and will be monitored overnight, with an assessment to be carried out before the next stage.
The accident occurred in the last 10km, where Plapp was involved with cyclists from Astana Qazaqstan and Cameron Scott from Bahrain Victorious. There was some confusion within the team, who were preparing for a sprint with Caleb Ewan, with some riders unaware of Plapp’s crash. This resulted in Plapp finishing the stage, without the presence of teammates around him, as they were unable to backtrack to help him.