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"I'm reaching my physical peak" - Can Tour of Britain winner Stephen Williams add Rainbow Jersey to growing palmares in Zurich?
CyclingMonday, 09 September 2024 at 18:30
For Stephen Williams, 2024 has been the most successful year of his career to date. Having started with the overall victory at the Tour Down Under in January, Williams then took Classics success at La Fleche Wallonne in the Spring and most recently, bagged two stages and the GC of the Tour of Britain.
"An amazing year, one I could only dream of," said Williams in quotes collected by BBC Sport after his Tour of Britain win was secured on Sunday afternoon. "We have another five or six weeks left of the season so hopefully we can finish the season off well and that would be perfect - but it's important to enjoy these moments and let them soak in. As athletes we get easily drawn into the next competition or target; hopefully I can let this one sink in and enjoy it."
As mentioned, whilst 2024 has already been a stunning season for Williams, the year isn't yet done. Next on the programme is a trip to North America for the GP Montreal and GP Quebec. "They'll be on Friday and Sunday this week, so hopefully I'll be good there," Williams told Radio Wales Breakfast. "They're well suited to me - punchy, hard races - so if I bring the Tour of Britain legs to those races hopefully I should be good."
After that, it's the big one, the World Championships in Zurich. Whilst perhaps not one of the main favourites, can Williams be considered a dark horse for the Rainbow Jersey? "I think I'm actually in a situation and a place now where I can go to these global events and try and actually compete for the win because [of] how good I've prepared," the Welshman previews. "I think as well, as athletes we continue to grow and I'm 28 now. I feel like I'm coming to a place where I'm reaching my physical peak and hopefully the next few years will be the same. It's been a gradual climb to here and it's just going to get better I think."
An injury-free campaign has certainly been a massive boost for the Israel - Premier Tech star. "I've been very healthy this year, injury free - touch wood that stays the same - but I just think that having set goals out from early winter last year to manage my goals and to set expectations and put myself in the best environment to actually go for them, I think that's been a major factor," he concludes.
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