"Hopefully, we can have a similar outcome to last year" - Defending Tour Down Under champion returns to Australia full of determination
Cycling
Israel - Premier Tech's Stephen Williams had a starring season in 2024. The Welshman's success last year was kicked off by a brilliant victory at the Tour Down Under and as Williams returns to defend his crown, he's determined to get 2025 off to a similarly winning start.
“I’m very much looking forward to returning to the Santos Tour Down Under for the second time after a successful race for our team in 2024,” says Williams in a press release from the Israel - Premier Tech team's official website. “I come back now with extra motivation and, hopefully, we can have a similar outcome to last year. Obviously, that would be perfect."
Williams took home a stage victory and the general classification win from the Tour Down Under in 2024. With the likes of Geraint Thomas, Jay Vine, Luke Plapp, Oscar Onley and more expected to also join the startlist in Australia, Williams is set to have some fierce competition for victory. “Bike racing is tough though and there’s a quality field here, so I’m expecting a tough six days in Adelaide," he previews. "The course seems to have gone back to a more traditional route this year, without Mount Lofty, but it’s definitely hard enough to be good for our team.”
“We’re excited to be back here at the Santos Tour Down Under, even more so as the defending winners,” adds Israel - Premier Tech's Head Sports Director Sam Bewley. “The race organization has done a great job designing a really dynamic route this year that we believe suits the team we have brought here. Of course, we plan to try to win the race again with Stevie Williams but with the depth we have in our team, there are possibilities and opportunities for us throughout the week. We want to kick off 2025 with success here in Australia so we’re looking forward to getting started.”
Israel - Premier Tech for 2025 Tour Down Under:
Read also
The champ is back! 🙌
— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) January 15, 2025
We’re just a few days away from the start of the WorldTour season where Stevie Williams will look to defend his @tourdownunder title, backed by a strong team in Adelaide!
“I come back now with extra motivation and, hopefully, we can have a similar outcome… pic.twitter.com/zoJ95vnbm4
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
- He just doesn't have the desire anymore. I read an article earlier today that said he almost retired last year. His reasoning was he is away from home to much. Visma was able to keep him riding by allowing him to skip certain camps. So, while currently Visma is doing altitude work...Jonas is at home. Which means 2 things. 1- He maybe fresher than other riders. But, not the condition. 2-Is a somewhat slap in the face to others on the team that are supposed to help him win. Yet feel like he hasn't done what they have so perhaps they don't provide as good of protection or they ride more for theme (which the team may not notice).md197514-11-2026
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment