A young athlete making his Olympic debut suffered a terrible accident in the time trial which forced him to undergo surgery.
Australian cyclist Luke Plapp, 23, from Victoria, crashed during the men’s Olympic cycling time trials in Paris on Sunday morning.
Plapp fell off his bike after the 13.1km checkpoint and required abdominal surgery overnight.
He is now recovering in hospital with his family and the Australian team doctor in a “stable condition”, according to the Australian Olympic Committee.
Plapp was two seconds behind the then leader, Belgian Wout van Aert, and had previously set the fourth fastest time in the race.
Wet conditions made the race dangerous for the athletes, especially in the intermediate technical section where Plapp was dismounted.
Footage of the crash has emerged online and shows the rider struggling to get up before being helped off the road by an Australian team support member.
The Olympics did not release the video, and others online agreed it was inappropriate to share: “Not nice to watch,” one user wrote on X.
Australian cyclist Luke Plapp, 23, from Victoria, crashed during the men’s Olympic cycling time trial in Paris on Sunday morning.
Plapp fell off his bike after the 13.1km checkpoint and needed abdominal surgery overnight but is now in a “stable” condition, according to the Australian Olympic Committee.
Plapp’s supporters applauded his efforts and wished him luck in his recovery via social media.
“I was devastated to see Luke Plapp crash. He was one of my favourites to win a medal,” wrote one.
“Very sad to hear that Luke Plapp has crashed out of the men’s individual time trial. The roads were treacherous in wet conditions. Hope he’s okay,” added a second rider.
Plapp is a three-time national road race champion and two-time national time trial champion.
It is still planned that Run the road race alongside fellow Australian athletes Michael Matthews and Simon Clarke on Saturday.
AOC said more information will be shared when it becomes available.
Plapp is a three-time national road race champion and two-time national time trial champion and is still scheduled to compete in the road race alongside other Australian athletes on Saturday.