We mainly know Luke Plapp as a time trialist and stage hunter, but the now 25-year-old Australian has also claimed some high overall placings in stage races in the past. For 2026, he is partly taking a different approach: the Jayco AlUla rider wants to explore his potential as a GC contender.
A new coach will help him with his 'transformation' into a stage racer. "I had a great relationship with my previous coach, so I didn’t know what to expect, especially since I just had my best season yet," Plapp says in an interview with cycling journalist Daniel Benson. "But the initial signs are very promising."
"I’m now working with Joshua Hunt, who also supports Ben O’Connor and has worked with the Yates brothers when they were riding for Jayco–AlUla. It’s a solid approach and he’s coached winners of Grand Tours and other strong general classification riders," Plapp adds.
Vuelta Test
Plapp hopes to develop into a strong stage racer under Hunt’s guidance. In the past, the all-rounder placed second at the UAE Tour and sixth at Paris-Nice, but he hasn’t yet proven himself in a grand tour. That is set to change in 2026: Plapp is expected to be Jayco–AlUla’s GC leader at the Vuelta a España.
"That’s still the plan. Next year, I’ll focus first on some week-long stage races and afterwards target the Tour de France as a stage hunter. If I still have enough energy after the Tour, I really want to go for a good GC at the Vuelta. But a lot will depend on how I feel after the Tour," Plapp cautiously concludes.
