After outstanding UAE Tour, Plapp hopes to finally deliver on GC promise: “Biggest goal of the year”

Up against elite climbers such as Isaac del Toro, Antonio Tiberi, Felix Gall, Adam Yates and Remco Evenepoel, Plapp more than held his own in the mountains in the Emirates. In fact, after a strong ride on the brutal ascent to Jebel Mobrah, he only had to concede to the dominant Mexican. The 25-year-old Australian then finished second on Jebel Hafeet and third overall in the general classification.

For Plapp, it was a relief that he could finally show what he felt he had in the legs. Speaking to Cyclingnews after the race, he explained that his season so far had been disrupted at key moments. “So I knew I had the legs, I just hadn’t been able to show it and put it together over a whole week so far this year. It was really nice to get to yesterday’s stage with the GC boys, and then actually be able to have a climb where it meant something for the overall.”

On Jebel Hafeet, we saw Plapp in a way we rarely have before: while Del Toro and Tiberi battled at the front, he rode back onto the leaders’ wheel. He even managed to distance Tiberi, eventually conceding only a handful of seconds to Del Toro on the line.

One important caveat around UAE Tour performances is the early-season heat. For many European riders, that can be a factor at this point in the calendar — and Plapp believes it worked in his favour after spending the summer in Australia. “I’ve had two to three months in Australia in the summer heat, and the Europeans obviously don’t have as much heat preparation, so especially when it’s hot, I really feel like that brings me up, or I don’t suffer in the heat at all compared to them,” Plapp added.

He also had more racing kilometres in his legs than many of his GC rivals. “I’ve done 20 race days,” Plapp said, noting he already felt close to his best form. Even so, the bigger picture is clear: he wants to turn those numbers into consistent GC results. “I know the power has been there; it’s about the consistency and putting it together, and I think that’s the biggest goal for this year,” said Plapp.

So far, Plapp’s best overall finish in a Grand Tour is 52nd at the Giro d’Italia — but he hopes that can change this season. The plan, he says, is to first prove himself across one-week stage races, and then translate that into a three-week GC performance. “I’ll be trying to put it together for a one-week stage race and then hopefully as well, in a Grand Tour, showing that consistency… so I am there on GC, and it’s not just hunting for stages.”