Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp has surgery after crash

Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp has been rushed to hospital for surgery after disaster struck midway through his race.

Luke Plapp was hospitalised after a crash. Picture: Instagram

Australian cyclist Luke Plapp has been rushed to hospital for surgery after a shocking crash during the men’s time trial at the Paris Olympics.

Plapp is now in a stable condition after the crash, which occurred on Sunday morning (AEST), AusCycling said.

The 23-year-old Victorian rider required abdominal surgery and remains in hospital. His parents and an Australian team doctor are by his side.

“Plapp was taken to hospital, where he is in a stable condition awaiting the results of scans,” AusCycling said.

The association later issued an update stating, “Plapp underwent abdominal surgery in a Paris hospital overnight”.

The three-time national road race champion and two-time national time trial champion came off his bike at about the 13.1km checkpoint and had set the fourth-fastest time at that moment, after a promising start to the race.

He was just two seconds behind then-leader Wout van Aert from Belgium.

Plapp had been competing in wet, dangerous conditions when disaster struck in the technical middle section. He was forced to abandon the race.

Luke Plapp was hospitalised after a crash. Picture: Instagram

Plapp celebrates during the 82nd Paris-Nice 2024, Stage 5 a 193.5km stage from Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut to Sisteron on March 07, 2024. Picture: Alex Broadway/Getty Images

There have been calls for footage of the incident not to be shared online, after it began popping up on social media. While the broadcast didn't show how the crash happened, video on social media shows Plapp lying on the rain-soaked ground near a barrier before being helped up by an Australian team support member.

Plapp at the 24th Santos Tour Down Under 2024 – Top Riders Press Conference on January 15, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. Picture: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Plapp after winning his second straight men's road race at the Road Nationals in Ballarat. Picture: Con Chronis/AusCycling

“He said in an interview that he’d been on the time trial bike every day since the Giro d’Italia,” one viewer wrote.

“All in. Please don’t post the video of him post crash, not nice to see.”

He’s in a stable condition. Picture: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Others shared their support for the Australian rider.

“Gutted to see Luke Plapp crashing out. He was one of my outside favourites for a medal.”

“Get well soon Luke Plapp, so gutted.”

“Very sad to hear Luke Plapp crashing out of the Men’s ITT. Those roads were treacherous in the wet conditions. I hope he is okay.”

Plapp is scheduled to ride the road race next Saturday alongside Michael Matthews and Simon Clarke.

Originally published as Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp has surgery after crash