Stephen Williams: "95% of the peloton rarely win, and you still have to train as hard as the guys winning"

Stephen Williams has won the Tour Down Under, Tour of Britain and Flèche Wallonne this year and he has enjoyed a big taste of winning at the high level. However, the Israel - Premier Tech is aware of how much work goes into being at this level, but also that even riders who are nowhere near the same level have to work just as hard just to have a chance in pro cycling.

In an interview with Escape Collective, the Welshman mentioned who was the rider in the peloton he'd want to be like: "I want to try and make my own way and have my own way of racing – but if there was a different answer, I’d say that if I’ve looked up to somebody for a number of years and the way he races, and how he goes about things, I’d say it’s Alaphilippe. To me he’s just one of the best. When I’m obviously now racing against him shoulder to shoulder, that makes it even more special".

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Williams has specialized as a puncheur, and has used that to the best of his abilities this year, not often showing his best form, but striking effectively when he did. He was very keen on pointing out the hard work and commitment that is necessary to be a pro rider, and how it's not the devotion to training that makes the difference.

"The amount of skill and sacrifice that takes, and even as bike riders, how hard we train, and what you have to do just to get even a sniff of a result, and we hardly ever win, right? Obviously, one or two riders win consistently, but you know, 95% of the peloton rarely win, and you still have to train as hard as the guys winning".

"It’s pretty brutal. I think, just to know how brutal it is. And you know, the fans are great. Without fans, it’d be wasted time, sport. Wherever the biggest crowds are is where you want to be," he concluded.

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