Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) may have finished second on the podium of the UAE Tour in 2023, but his third place overall at the 2026 edition feels like a big step forward when it comes to his GC racing, putting together a consistent seven days of racing and thriving in the heat.
Few riders have raced as much as Plapp so far this season, carrying his form from the Australian National Championships through the Tour Down Under and over to the Middle East, all adding up to this WorldTour podium finish.
He showed signs of his climbing legs on the final day of the Tour of Oman, finishing third on Green Mountain, but Plapp could feel a result like he managed on Jebel Hafeet on Saturday – second behind only Isaac del Toro – was coming, and he’s looking to kick on from here with a second Tour de France in his sights.
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