Australian champion Luke Plapp appeared to be on the verge of a strong showing in the individual time trial at the Paris Olympics, moving to the front after the first time check, but the race came to an abrupt end when he crashed in the wet and slippery conditions.

The broadcast did not show how he crashed, but social media footage showed Plapp being carefully helped up by Australian team support from near the rain-soaked track barrier. The fall occurred as he exited the center of the course and headed into the technical section, forcing him to abandon the race.

“Plapp has been taken to hospital and his condition is stable pending the results of tests,” AusCycling said in its initial media release.

The Australian team then sent the following update: “23-year-old cyclist Lucas Prapp underwent abdominal surgery in a Paris hospital tonight after crashing in the rain during the men's individual road time trial.

“Plapp slipped under a barrier fence shortly after passing the first checkpoint at about the 14km mark of the 32km course. His parents and the Australian team doctor were at the hospital with him.

The team added that further medical details could not be released at this time.

In the 32.4 km time trial, which was won by world champion Remco Evenpole (Belgium), he was 26th out of 34 riders at the start line; when he passed the first time check at 13.1 km, Plapp was one second ahead of bronze medalist Wout van Aert ( Belgium) by one second.

At this first intermediate time check, Australia with Grace Brown had already won gold in the women's time trial, and hopes were high for a medal in the men's time trial on Saturday. However, there was no sign of Plapp at the 22km marker at the second intermediate point, and then came the news that Plapp had crashed.

Plapp had been coming into the Olympics with a solid run in the time trial since regaining the national title in January, finishing seventh and fifth in the Giro d'Italia in stages against the clock. He finished seventh and fifth in the Giro d'Italia, giving him one last boost of confidence before the Olympics.

Plapp, a Victoria native who won an Olympic bronze medal on the track as part of the Team Pursuit team at the Tokyo Olympics, was scheduled to focus on the road in 2024 and compete in the men's elite road race on Saturday, August 3. The original plan before the crash was for Plapp to support Michael Matthews along with Simon Clark. Unlimited access to all coverage of the 2024 Olympics, including breaking news and analysis from local journalists in all road, mountain bike, track, and BMX races. For more information.