Australian road race champion Luke Plapp has surged into a surprise lead of one of cycling's great races, heading the Paris-Nice 'Race to the Sun' on his debut after a daring runner's up spot on the fourth stage.
The 23-year-old Melbourne ace, wearing his green-and-gold striped national champion's jersey, took a punt on speeding away from the GC favourites on Wednesday's penultimate climb of the day, going solo for a while some 15 seconds ahead of his pursuers.
