Luke Plapp beats quality field to defend his title

Plapp becomes the second rider in 40 years to win two straight men’s road race national titles after a dominant ride to beat international Aussie stars. Find out he prevailed.

This road race national title is so much sweeter for Victorian Luke Plapp.

The 22-year-old made it back-to-back men’s titles at the Roadnats in Buninyong, near Ballarat, on Sunday.

This time, unlike last year with Covid restrictions, he beat the best Australia had to offer.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider survived multiple breakaways and oppressive heat to be part of the final group, charging to the finish, which included former Tour de France stage winners Simon Clarke and Michael Matthews.

Plapp, after making multiple attempts to breakaway in the final few kilometres, made his move with one kilometre to go, cycling away from his rivals as they hesitated for a split second to follow pursuit.

Victorian Luke Plapp is all smiles after winning the Elite Men's road races at Australian National Championships at Buninyong in Ballarat, Victoria, Sunday, January 8, 2023. Photo by Con Chronis/AusCycling.

Their loss was the Melburnians gain as he powered to a second straight win.

“I wasn’t ready to give up the jersey or bike just yet,” he said.

“I’m pretty speechless to be honest.

“I can’t believe it paid off and worked.”

Plapp said this year’s preparation was much harder than last year and with the quality of the field, he knew there was a challenge to keeping his title.

“It’s bigger and better, you only have to look at the start list to see that,” he said.

“To win this is really special and to take it to the Tour Down Under now (next week), which is back as a World Tour event, I’m really glad to do so.

“It’s a dream come true.”

Plapp becomes just the second rider in more than 40 years to win back-to-back nationals, joining his hero Cameron Meyer who won it in 2020 and 2021.

Luke Plapp won his second straight men's road race at the Road Nationals in Ballarat. Photo by Con Chronis/AusCycling.

He said the win wouldn’t have been possible without the support on the course from his family and friends.

“I had about 12 people feeding me and giving me bottles,” he said.

“That really did make a massive difference, I didn’t feel the heat as much as I was paying attention to that.”

Plapp finished ahead of Israel Premier Tech’s Clarke and Team Jayco AlUla’s Matthews, who finished second and third.

Simon Clarke, Luke Plapp and Michael Matthews on the podium after the men's road race in Ballarat. Photo by Con Chronis/AusCycling

Matthews, who finished third in last year’s World Championships in the road race, said he did all he could to claim his first national road race title.

“I had a big target on my back in that final (lap) and I did all I could to get rid of riders,” he said.

“I chased him (Plapp) a fair few times but the other two were just sitting on my wheel letting me chase Plapp all the time.

“At some point you have to gamble a little bit and hope the other two do a pull to try to get him back also and unfortunately we gambled at the wrong time and he pulled away.”

Matthews now turns his attention to the Tour Down Under and is confident his form today will bode well for it.

“My legs feel quite good,” he said.

“Today I surprised myself a bit and I was quite pleasantly surprised how I performed in the heat, coming straight from Europe (last Wednesday).

In the women’s road race, Queensland’s Brodie Chapman made sure her return to Australia for the first time in three years to compete counted by winning her first national cycling title.

The Trek-Segafredo rider claimed the biggest win of her career so far after attacking on the final lap and holding on during the last climb up Mount Buninyong.

“I feel like I’m joining an elite club, so it’s pretty cool to be part of,” she said.

“I’m really excited to be wearing this jersey for the rest of the year.”

Chapman returned to compete at the nationals for the first time in three years after Covid forced her to be in Europe during 2021 and 2022.

She finished ahead of Victorian Grace Brown and her teammate, New South Wales’ Amanda Spratt in the race.

The hard luck story was Brown, from Camperdown, who finished second for the third straight year.

The 30-year-old Victorian has now been on the podium the past four years, with three seconds and a third, without climbing the top step.

“I put everything in to the race this year and the race last year, so I have to be happy with the second place,” Brown said.

“Of course I would love to have the national champs jersey but it’s not landed on my shoulders just yet.”

Brown will start favourite in the national women’s time trial, which will be held on Tuesday on the same day as the men’s event.