Welshman Stevie Williams ends Europe’s 10-year drought with his first Tour Down Under title
Welshman Stevie Williams has won the last stage of the Tour Down Under to also confirm his victory in the overall title.
Williams was in a front group of five riders who fought out the hilltop finish at Mt Lofty in the Adelaide Hills.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Stevie Williams celebrates emotional TDU title.
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After a series of attacks on the 3km climb to the finish, Williams timed his charge to the line perfectly.
This is Williams’ debut at the Santos Tour and he is also the first European overall winner of the race since 2013.
“Brilliant. Oh, what a stage. Over the moon, honestly,” he told Channel 7.
“The support the team have given me the last few days — incredible. Can’t thank them enough. Really proud to come down here and start the season like this on the front foot.”
The Israel-Premier Tech rider took the overall lead on Saturday, when he finished second, immediately behind young Scot Oscar Onley, on the hilltop finish at Willunga.
Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narvaez finished second on the stage and was also second overall, nine seconds behind Williams.
Onley, who was tied for the overall lead with Williams on time, dropped to fourth overall.
Mexico’s 20-year-old sensation Isaac del Toro, who led the Tour earlier in the week, finished third in the stage and was third overall at 11 seconds.
National team rider Damien Howson was the only Australian in the top 10 overall, finishing ninth.
It proved a barren home tour for top Australian team Jayco AlUla, with no stage wins and their main overall hope Simon Yates finishing sixth.
Sunday’s sixth and final stage was 128.2km from suburban Unley, through the Hills.
