PARIS, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Australia has announced that Ben O'Conner will replace Luke Plapp in their team for Saturday's men's road race after Plapp was ruled out through injury.
The 23-year-old fell badly in the rain-soaked time trial on July 27 and needed an operation and he is still recovering in hospital, meaning O'Conner will now partner Simon Clarke and Michael Matthews in the team for the 272 km road race.
"Ben has performed strongly this season and is currently in top form," said Anna Meares, who is Australia's Chef de Mission in Paris.
O'Conner, 28, rides for the Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale team and has a career of solid results, including a fourth place overall finish in the 2021 Tour de France.
He ended fourth in this year's Giro d'Italia and has two third place overall finishes in the Criterium du Dauphine.
"His talent and versatility provide the team with options in different race scenarios which is highly valuable in a race that has fewer athletes per nation and doesn't permit the use of race radios by the athletes," continued Meares, who added that Plapp would be "out of hospital this week." ■
