Tara Murray
Maribyrnong’s Lucas Plapp was left speechless after pulling off a second straight Australian National Road Race title.
After tasting success last year, Plapp broke away from a pack including Simon Clarke and Michael Matthews, who finished second and third, late to claim victory on Sunday in Ballarat.
Speaking after the race, Plapp was still letting the realisation of what he had done settle in.
“I can’t believe that, seriously I’ve got no words.” he said.
“That was so much different to last year mate, I’ve been wracking my brain around how I can win. I’m lost for words to be honest.”
Plapp was part of a strong field, including some of Australia’s best riders.
He said he was unsure how the race was going to play out and knew that he had to bide his time.
“I felt good all race… We missed [the break] and it was really dangerous,” he said.
“We just looked to each other and we’ve got to take this up together all in. We did a really hard climb to bring that back.
“After that the heat dwindled down everyone, it was a really weird race and it was quite negative, considering the field that we had.
“That last lap, I don’t know what happened on the last lap.”
Plapp said having Clarke and Matthews in the break alongside him, he said he knew he had to race smartly.
He said having ridden with Clarke last week at the Bay Crits, he had taken as much information as possible out of that experience.
“I tried to pick his brain,” he said.
“I knew having him there I had to race really smart, what he would do, I can’t believe that I pulled it off.”
There is no rest for Plapp who will be back in action this week in Adelaide at the Tour Down Under.
