The thrill of victory at the Tour of Bright was palpable as Brodie Chapman and Luke Plapp took home the overall titles—yet, the competition was fierce and the spoils were shared among top contenders. On Sunday, both the women's and men's races showcased heart-pumping action, culminating in wins at the challenging summit of Mt Buffalo. Meanwhile, Katelyn Nicholson and Levi Hone made notable stage victories, adding extra excitement to an already unforgettable event.
Brodie Chapman, representing UAE Team ADQ, initially gained the women's overall lead with a commanding performance during the stage 2 time trial. However, she was quick to emphasize that her work was far from over, especially after leaving that time trial with a 44-second advantage over her closest rival, Talia Appleton of Praties. Chapman’s persistence proved crucial, but it was her competitors who made the race even more gripping.
In the final, sunny 60-kilometer stage starting from Isla Carr, the race intensified early on. Katelyn Nicholson, riding for Butterfield Ziptrak, and Lucie Spurling launched an early breakaway, establishing a significant lead of nearly three minutes before the treacherous final climb—an ascent with about 1,000 meters of vertical difficulty—began.
Talia Appleton explained to Cyclingnews, “I started hard from the bottom of the climb, similar to what I did in Tawonga yesterday, knowing we needed to crack to catch Katelyn, who was quite far ahead.” Despite the relentless effort from Appleton riding at the front and Chapman aiming to stay with the wheel, the group gradually thinned, leaving Nicholson to cling to her lead just barely. Appleton crossed the line only two seconds behind Nicholson and was followed by Emily Dixon of Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto Generation in third place, both on the stage and in the general classification.
Chapman, meanwhile, secured her victory in the overall women's classification with an impressive fourth-place finish on the stage, only conceding two seconds to Appleton—a margin that confirmed her consistency and strength throughout the race.
Turning to the men’s race, Luke Plapp continued his impressive streak, claiming his third consecutive win at the Tour of Bright—a race that, while club-run and not always kissed by widespread international recognition, holds immense significance for the local cycling community and Plapp himself. The Australian time trial champion’s win was a testament to his dedication, as he navigated two summit finishes and a critical time trial course. His victory was confirmed with a third place on the final stage, which was dominated by 19-year-old Levi Hone and seasoned veteran Mark O'Brien.
The battle for supremacy at the front was intense. The two leaders, separated by nearly 20 years, broke clear early on, having established a 17-rider breakaway at the start of the climb. They maintained their pace as the peloton, which had started the ascent several minutes behind, struggled to catch them.
Plapp recounted to Cyclingnews, “We played cat and mouse at the bottom. It wasn’t until about 10 kilometers that I really attacked. It was incredible to see such a large breakaway fighting it out on the climbs.” The race grew even more exciting when O'Brien, the 2024 Melbourne to Warrnambool winner and Australian gravel champion, bridged across to the leaders. He then pushed hard on the climb with Hone matching his effort, but ultimately, only Hone managed to stay with O'Brien and Plapp.
Throughout the climb, Plapp made it clear he was on a mission. He aimed to undo the 46-second gap over race leader Will Cooper, who had won from a breakaway earlier. Plapp even humorously crashed his pre-stage interview, jokingly reminding his rival of this goal. As the race crescendoed at the mountain top chalet, Plapp made a decisive move, leaving Hone and O'Brien to fight it out for stage honors while he concentrated on gaining valuable seconds overall.
Meanwhile, Cooper, watching from a safer position, maintained his composure, riding closely behind his opponents in hopes of securing the best possible GC result. His 13th-place finish on the stage was enough to keep him in second overall. Jayco-AlUla teammate Kelland O'Brien rounded out the podium in third after a spirited sixth-place climb effort.
From a performance perspective, the Tour of Bright also served as a battleground for record-breaking efforts on Mt Buffalo’s infamous climb. Sharp times were posted in both the women’s and men’s categories, with notable improvements across the board. Inez Cashman, who finished fifth in the stage, set a new Queen of the Mountains (QOM) record with a time of 52:05—shaving 35 seconds off last year’s mark, held by Sarah Gigante. Appleton and Chapman quickly followed, setting times just over a second apart, all beating Gigante’s previous record.
This year, Luke Plapp ran an even faster leg, lowering his own best time for the climb. In 2023, he had already shattered the record by more than three minutes, finishing in 41:18. However, in 2024, despite a less-than-perfect run, he still bested his previous effort with a time of 41:04, demonstrating his relentless pursuit of excellence.
In conclusion, the Tour of Bright continues to grow in prestige, not just as a local competition but as a showcase of cycling prowess and determination. The event’s challenging climbs and the fierce competition mean even casual fans can marvel at the incredible feats of riders pushing their limits.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should these local club races be considered as significant as international events, or do they sometimes get overlooked in the grander scheme of professional cycling? Share your thoughts below—do you believe the value of these races is underestimated, or are they just stepping stones in a larger career?
