Nice Britain’s Stevie Williams is aiming to be “aggressive” in a troublesome males’s highway race on the World Championships in Zürich this Sunday, as a part of a “actually sturdy workforce”.
The 28-year-old Welshman has loved his finest 12 months thus far, reaching two WorldTour degree wins on the Tour Down Underneath and La Flèche Wallonne at first of the 12 months, earlier than taking victory on the Tour of Britain Males in early September. With a spot in Nice Britain’s squad confirmed, Williams says he’s now seeking to carry his successful kind into his elite worlds debut in Zurich on Sunday.
“I’d wish to go there and be aggressive,” Williams instructed Biking Weekly on the current Grand Prix Cyclistes de Québec and Montréal in Canada. “It is a goal of mine to go there with good legs, however I’m beneath no phantasm that it’s one of many hardest races of the 12 months.”
“It should be extraordinarily troublesome to get into the ultimate and attempt to race for the victory,” he added. “But when I’ve day then I am going to attempt my finest to be there and provides it shot. On the finish of the day it’s the World Championships. If you happen to can’t get motivated for that then what are you able to? We’ll be taking a very sturdy workforce and hopefully as GB we are able to actually present our colors effectively.”
Williams flew straight to Canada on the Monday after successful the Tour of Britain Males. On account of fatigue and minor sickness, he didn’t end the GP Montréal which was ultimately gained by the new favorite for the lads’s highway world title, Tadej Pogačar.
The Aberystwyth-born rider nonetheless made the worlds choice for Nice Britain and can line up alongside Tom Pidcock, Adam and Simon Yates, Oscar Onley, Jake Stewart, James Knox and Mark Donovan within the highway race in Zurich.
Regardless of his success this 12 months, Williams was hesitant to say that he felt he could lead on the British workforce in Switzerland. As a substitute, the 28-year-old was diplomatic and mentioned that he would merely accept any position within the workforce that got here his approach.
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“I believe with GB now we’ve lots of energy in depth in climbing and punching,” he mentioned. “Now we have a stacked pool of riders who’re world class. So whether or not I am going there and try to race the ultimate, or I am going there and assist another person deep into the race, that is additionally okay.
“It’s going to be one thing we talk about nearer to the time as soon as we’re there, which is after we’ll begin to make choices and take a look at how we are able to do our greatest.”
Protecting the religion
(Picture credit score: SWpix.com)
Reflecting on his finest 12 months thus far, Williams mentioned that his success had at occasions felt surreal. The Welshman is a rider that has at all times proven monumental potential, along with his finest outcomes starting to reach after a transfer to Israel-Premier Tech on the finish of 2022.
Williams took his first stage race victory on the 2023 Arctic Race of Norway nevertheless it was this 12 months the place he made a giant step. His kind did not go unnoticed and resulted in a prolonged contract extension coming his approach through the Tour de France, which can hold him with the workforce till 2028.
“I do not assume I might have instructed you at first of the 12 months or in winter final 12 months, that I would be capable of be sitting right here now as a winner of those races,” Williams mentioned as he mirrored on his breakthrough 12 months. “Typically I actually should pinch myself and attempt to determine if it is actual or not. In order that’s tremendous particular for me, particularly after all of the s**t previously.
“It simply actually reveals that anybody who’s struggling with accidents or going by a foul second simply hold the religion, after which hopefully you will come out the opposite aspect and be even higher for it. That definitely labored for me.”
A eager sportsman away from biking, Williams admitted that he was now trying ahead to the off season and an opportunity to immerse himself in different sports activities throughout a uncommon spell away from the bike.
“I am unable to wait to have the ability to sit down and watch some soccer and watch Liverpool,” he mentioned. “They’re enjoying rather well now so I am going to observe them for a lot of the winter as I do now, however hopefully I am going to truly get to a few soccer video games and simply get pleasure from all of it.
“In any other case it will be good to spend time with family and friends, spend time with my girlfriend, and simply neglect in regards to the bike for a couple of weeks till we steadily construct all of it up once more.”
