Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Cycling Weekly|September 12, 2024
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
Tom Davidson
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion

It was a distinctly British setting for Stevie Williams's victory at the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men on Sunday, the first home winner of the race in eight years.

By the pier in Felixstowe, fans held their punnets of fish and chips tightly in the blustery seaside conditions. When the peloton arrived along the coast, together with the race's winner-elect, a well-timed downpour soaked the scene, catching out the many spectators in T-shirts and shorts.

Williams, in the green hues of the leader's jersey, ground to a halt metres beyond the finish line. He then placed both hands over his face in a gesture that suggested disbelief at his feat, but may also have just been a simple wiping of the rain from his eyes.

"I'm over the moon to have won this race. It's my home race. It doesn't get much better than that," the 28-year-old said afterwards. Not only did Williams win the overall - the first Brit since Steve Cummings in 2016 to do so - he also earned himself two stage wins, beating two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe in a sprint on stage two, before doubling up the following day.

Thanks to the bonus seconds he claimed from those victories, the IsraelPremier Tech rider secured the race by 16 seconds. Young Scot Oscar Onley of DSM-Firmenich PostNL tried his best to derail Williams's victory, eventually finishing second, while Frenchman Tom Donnenwirth (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale Development) nipped into third on the final day.

"It's been tough," Williams said. "After the Tour [de France] and the Olympics, we circled this race as a possible race to come and win. The punchy finishes on stages two and three suited me, so we gave ourselves a good chance. We put ourselves in the picture, grew in confidence daily, and got it done in the end."

この記事は Cycling Weekly の September 12, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Cycling Weekly の September 12, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

CYCLING WEEKLYのその他の記事すべて表示
"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"
Cycling Weekly

"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"

Fast, furious and furry tales from Australia

time-read
3 分  |
October 17, 2024
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE £2,499
Cycling Weekly

RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE £2,499

A Brompton for running riot in both town and country

time-read
4 分  |
October 17, 2024
How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?
Cycling Weekly

How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?

There are a myriad of tyres on the market but selecting the right one is easier than you think

time-read
3 分  |
October 17, 2024
FEAST OF SWEDEN
Cycling Weekly

FEAST OF SWEDEN

Soon after landing in Gothenburg, I began to realise how little I knew about Sweden.

time-read
6 分  |
October 17, 2024
THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS
Cycling Weekly

THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS

Globe-trotting gravel racer Joe Laverick chooses his eight favourite events, from coastal Wales to the wilds of Kenya

time-read
7 分  |
October 17, 2024
THE CALL OF THE WILD
Cycling Weekly

THE CALL OF THE WILD

Tempted to embark on a long-distance bike adventure? Let former round-the-world record holder and author Julian Sayarer inspire you to strike out and hit the road

time-read
7 分  |
October 17, 2024
Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes
Cycling Weekly

Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes

Cornish team also alleged to owe former staff tens of thousands of pounds

time-read
3 分  |
October 17, 2024
JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE
Cycling Weekly

JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE

I've ridden through hundreds of feed zones in my time racing a bike.

time-read
1 min  |
October 17, 2024
Lowden not ready to stop after retirement
Cycling Weekly

Lowden not ready to stop after retirement

Former Hour record holder eyes UK time trial scene

time-read
2 分  |
October 17, 2024
Pogačar makes history (again) at Lombardia
Cycling Weekly

Pogačar makes history (again) at Lombardia

Slovenian makes it four in a row at the late-season Italian Monument

time-read
3 分  |
October 17, 2024