Australia has announced that an injured Luke Plapp will be replaced by Ben O’Connor in the men’s road race at the Olympic Games on Saturday August 3.
Plapp, who crashed in the men’s individual time trial on Saturday and had abdominal surgery later that night, was set to race alongside Simon Clarke in a support role for Michael Matthews, but he remains in hospital following the hard fall, necessitating a change of plan.
“Ben has performed strongly this season and is currently in top form,” said Chef de Mission Anna Meares in Paris. “He is very motivated to join his teammates for the road race.
“His talent and versatility provides the team with options in different race scenarios which is highly valuable in a race that has fewer athletes per nation and doesn’t permit the use of race radios by the athletes.”
O’Connor last raced at the Giro d’Italia, where he came fourth overall, in a continuation of the climbers powerful GC performances this year. The 28-year-old also took second place at the Tour of the Alps and UAE Tour this season and started his season with a win at the one-day Vuelta a Murcia.
The rider, who has both a Tour de France and Giro d’Italia stage victory on his palmarès, had been preparing for the Vuelta a España when he was pulled into the team for the 273km event, where Matthews is among the contenders.
It will be O’Connor’s first Olympic Games as he replaces Plapp on medical grounds.
Plapp, who raced in Tokyo on the track, came down after delivering a strong performance in the opening stages of the wet time trial. He posted the fourth best time at the first checkpoint at 13km into the 32km race against the clock.
“Luke is receiving the best of care in hospital and is being well supported by our medical team,” said Meares. “We expect he’ll be out of hospital this week and wish him a speedy recovery.”
