By Gareth James
Stevie Williams bagged the biggest victory of his career when he became the first Brit to win the La Flèche Wallonne classic race.
The 27-year-old triumphed after powering away on the steep slopes of the famous Mur de Huy for an incredible win in atrocious conditions.
“What a day. I’m so happy right now. I can’t believe I just won Fleche!” Aberystwyth-born racer Williams said after the race.
“I’m going to f****** phone everyone” 😅
Stevie Williams + Sam Bewley + Daryl Impey. Name a better trio 🤝
🇧🇪 #FlecheWallonne #YallaIPT pic.twitter.com/DDJQTmC7ST
— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) April 17, 2024
“I’ve been watching this race for years and I’ve always wanted to come here with decent legs to try and win it. Today with the weather – I do enjoy racing this kind of weather and to come away with a victory – I’m just over the moon.
“The boys backed me all day and they gave me the best chance to try and to result today and to come away with the win here is special, really special.
“I’m exhausted and lost for words, quite emotional really. It’s just a really hard sport and to win bike races is hard. Especially here in these Classics. So yeah, I’m really happy.”
It was the best result by a Brit since Tom Simpson was third 59 years ago!
Williams , who competes for the Israel-Premier Tech team, produced the decisive burst of speed on the fourth climb of the steep 1.3km Mur du Huy going around 300m from the finish.
He beat Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic) and Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) to the line after an attritional 199km race which saw a much reduced peloton reach the finish after day of heavy rain and snow.
STEVIEEEEEEEEEE!
The Welsh wonder becomes the first British male winner of @flechewallonne 🏆 #FlecheWallonne 🇧🇪 #YallaIPT pic.twitter.com/vJRL8GfSHH
— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) April 17, 2024
He added: “There was a bit of a like a block on the road like everyone was just kind of waiting, and I just saw the 300 metres to go.
“I thought if I can get a jump here and you know put five to 10 seconds into the group and see the line in front of you then I think it’d be a good chance to hold on and I was looking around a bit and I was a bit like because the legs are empty but really happy to hold on and win.”