This is beach weather for a Brit! Flèche Wallonne surprise Williams unfazed: "This is a brutal sport"

Stephen Williams, winner of the 2024 Flèche Wallonne! Who would have predicted that? The 27-year-old Brit from Israel-Premier Tech was surprisingly the best on the Mur de Huy in a frozen edition, after most top favorites had already given up in the harsh conditions.

Wrapped in a thick winter coat and with a voice trembling from the cold, Williams could barely smile. However, he was definitely happy in the flash interview. "What a day, what a day. I am so happy, I can't believe I won the Flèche Wallonne! I've been watching this race since I was a little boy and I always wanted to compete here and try to win. With the weather today... I love these conditions, but to win here... The guys supported me all day so I could go for a result. It's special, I'm over the moon."

Williams seemed to be the only one with a real burst of speed left in his legs, so he chose his moment. No one responded, although second-place Kévin Vauquelin came close in the final meters. "Everyone was waiting a bit, the pace was on. I saw the 300-meter sign and knew that if I could make a jump and get five or ten seconds, I could hold it to the line. My legs were empty, but I'm glad I held on. It's emotional, I'm a bit lost for words. Winning a bike race is tough, this is a brutal sport. Especially in these classics, so I'm happy."

Williams was already in the breakaway, but still won

"It was freezing as soon as we entered the local circuit," Williams analyzes further after the podium ceremony at Eurosport. "To win such a tough edition is very special. I knew the history of this race and the men who have won here. I decided to open the race a round earlier and we ended up in a group of five. It wasn't bad that we were caught, because I knew I still had good legs." After his overall victory in the Tour Down Under, it's confirmation that Williams is here to stay. 'Everything is a bonus this year.'