Plapp’s win marked a strong return to form following an early season crash that resulted in a broken wrist and an unfortunate time trial crash in the opening week of the Giro. With an eye on doing something special on Stage 8, the Australian joined a strong breakaway group early and then attacked on his own with 45km to go to win the 197km stage from Giulianova to Castelraimondo.
Powering his Propel Advanced SL bike with a CADEX Amp saddle, CADEX 50 Ultra WheelSystem and the new CADEX Aero Cotton tires through the Apennines in the region of Marche, the 24-year-old was able to stay away and hold off chasers Wilco Kelderman and Diego Ulissi to take the win.
“I still can’t believe it to be honest,” Plapp said after the win. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming. Last year I got so close at the Giro so many times and for it to happen today is so, so special.”
Plapp and the team had marked this day before the start of the three-week grand tour. “This morning on the bus we were really, really excited, so to make it happen is a dream come true,” he said.
REDEMPTION RIDE
After the time trial crash derailed his plans to compete for the general classification, Plapp turned his attention toward stage wins. With four categorized climbs, Stage 8 was set up to be a tough one, and the Australian made all the right moves from the start. After a series of attacks in the first 90 minutes, the winning break of about 20 riders finally formed and Plapp made the split.
“That was an unbelievable fight to get in the breakaway,” he said. “It just kept going and going. There was one point where I was falling out so many times I was almost dropped myself, and then I gave it one more chance just to try to get in there, and there was a massive group that made it.”
From there, Plapp made the winning move over the Category 1 Sassotetto climb. “I think the way the racing’s been going this year the long moves have been really successful, so that was sort of in the back of my mind,” he said. “The first one to make a move I think always has an advantage.”
He had his work cut out for him holding off a hard chase from behind. The three-time Australian time trial champion used his TT prowess to power across the hilly terrain in the final 20km, crossing the finish with his arms spread wide and 38 seconds to spare.
GROENEWEGEN MAKES IT TWO
Riding his Propel Advanced SL with a CADEX 50 Ultra WheelSystem and CADEX Aero Cotton tires, as well as a CADEX Aero Integrated handlebar, Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen added to the celebration for Team Jayco AlUla, scoring a big win at the Tour of Hungary on the same day as Plapp’s Giro victory. Following two podium finishes in the preceding days in Hungary, the 31-year-old finally got the result he was aiming for on Stage 4.
“Twice already I was very close to victory in this race, but each time someone was just slightly faster than me,” Groenewegen said after the win. “Today, however, everything fell into place. The team performed well again. This victory is a relief for me and confirms that all the hard work of recent weeks has not been in vain.”
The relatively flat 154km stage was controlled mostly by the teams looking to contest the sprint. A break was reeled in with 30km to go, and Groenewegen’s teammates did well to control things from there, staying in position near the front. The final kilometer was an all-out battle, and the Dutch sprinter, a winner of six Tour de France stages, powered his Propel Advanced SL to the line for the win.