"I just want to be pain free" - Stephen Williams worries about his career after disaster 2025

Stephen Williams of NSN Cycling Team is a good example of how even some of the top riders in the peloton can be completely absent from the peloton due to 'invisible' health issues. The Welshman had his best season ever in 2024 but was not able to back that up after suffering from a lingering injury throughout the entire 2025 season - one that is not yet treated, and put his future in jeopardy.

In 2024 Williams was already a quality rider, but he then experienced a career-changing season. He won the Tour Down Under, conquering it with a final stage victory at Mount Lofty whilst wearing the ochre jersey; He won Flèche Wallonne in the absence of Tadej Pogacar; and he finished his season on a high by also winning the Tour of Britain. These results, specially for a puncheur, are unusual in the current peloton and outlined his talent.

“It was a great year in so many ways. One thing I will say is the lows of cycling are way, way worse than the highs of winning. It doesn’t come close," Williams said in an interview with CyclingWeekly. "Winning is the greatest thing, it’s beautiful. But when you’re injured, off the bike, it’s absolutely devastating.”

He was set to be one of Israel - Premier Tech's key men this year, but that turned out not to be the case, and it all started in Australia back in January. “Everything was normal. A couple of days later, I woke up and had this sharp pain on the top of my patella. Nine months later, I’m still in this battle. It’s one of those injuries that’s going to be seen in smaller steps rather than big changes over a few days".

What Williams is experiencing is a tendinopathy in his right leg quadriceps muscle, which sees him often suffering from inflammation when under load. For a pro cyclist, this is naturally a very difficult injury to withstand, as the use of the legs is an irreplaceable aspect of the sport.

“Frustration is the key word. Any injury is hard to deal with for an athlete, but the hardest one is soft tissue, ligament, tendon issues - and I’ve had two. They’re so difficult to manage. Even in the medical world, millions and millions is thrown into the study and knowledge of tendons, and they’re still really unsure how they work and respond.”

Williams took time off competition and then returned at the Giro d'Abruzzo, where he completed the race and hoped to make a return to the sport and perhaps be competitive in the Ardennes classics. He did not finish them, and was then forced to take another break. Eventually, the Welshman underwent surgery in September to try and fix the issue. There's a potential chance of success, but also a very slow recovery, and he is hoping to get back on the bike for regular training before the year ends - although there is no certainty that will happen.

“Like everyone knows, I think it’s going to be a very different team. I think we’re all excited for a new era. Right now, I don’t care if I’m flying on the bike, I just want to be pain free and healthy," he admits. At his current pace of recovery, expecting a return to the peloton before March is unrealistic, and at best he will be back in the peloton during the spring.

But assigning specific goals at the time being is difficult for the former Arctic Race of Norway and Cro Race winner. “I have a lot of motivation to come back, I’m fighting and working hard. Fingers crossed everything will fall into line soon," he hopes. "When my first knee injury happened six years ago, I thought my career was done – and it wasn’t. The body can do some extraordinary things.”