Plapp and Willis win Mens eLITE STAGES IN THE Tour of Bright 2023
Photography Featured in Article by CyclingNews
Written by Henry Yates | 6ft8photographer
Australian cyclists Luke Plapp and Eddie Willis both come away with great results on the weekend at the 2023 Tour of Bright ahead of Road Nations in January 2024. Eddie Willis takes the title in the rainy and foggy Stage 1 KOM on Tawonga Gap whilst, Plapp takes the title for the Individual Time Trial in Stage 2 and sets a new KOM record up Mount Buffalo winning Stage 3.
Eddie Willis celebrates victory on top of Tawonga Gap in Stage 1 Tour of Bright 2023. Image by Henry Yates| 6ft8photographer
Stage 1: Tawonga Gap rOAD rACE
The morning was cool, humid and cloudy. The riders set off with dry roads which soon turned wet as they got closer to Tawonga Gap. Plapp rode with the peloton for and entire stage unable to bridge the gap to the breakaway which maintained their advantage through until the KOM where Eddie Willi took the victory over Oliver Stenning(Blackshaw Racing), Jack Aitken(St George Continental Cycling Team), and Joshua Ludman(Rauland Development Cycling Team) all who finished with +0 times.
Luke Plapp in action in the Individual Time Trail in Stage 2 of the Tour of Bright. Image by Henry Yates| 6ft8photographer
Stage 2: wANDI Individual Time Trial
Stage 2 of the Tour of Bright is in fact held only a few hours after the first stage, which saw the rain stop and the roads dried out for most of the riders. When the Men’s elite returned to race their second stage for the day the rainy conditions resumed. This didn’t stop Plapp who powered through, taking the fastest time for the day and victory in Stage 2.
Stage 3 of the Tour of Bright sees Luke Plapp set a new KOM record up Mt Buffalo. Image by Henry Yates| 6ft8photographer
Stage 3: mT bUFFALO rOAD rACE
The sun was shining and the skies were clear for the final stage of the 2023 Tour of Bright up Mt Buffalo. The startline was full with 102 riders ready to race. Plapp strategically remained with the Peloton for the majority of the race even with a break of 7 up the road which included strong climbers like Eddie Willis who took the title in stage 1, Jack Atikin and Jordan Villiani.
Plapp maintained his position up the front of the peloton until he was on the Mount Buffalo climb when he took to the front ramping the pace, overtaking riders up the climb until he broke off the front with Luke Burns (Team BridgeLane) together they rolled turns up the climb until Burns ran out of steam nearing the Mackeys Lookout.
As Plapp kept advancing up the climb, he managed to create a 1 minute and 15 second gap in front of the next rider taking a clear victory.