Two wins in two days for Stevie Williams at the Tour of Britain, and while his victory in Barnsley on Thursday extended his GC lead to 0:16, it was harder fought than his triumph in Redcar a day earlier.
Williams and his teammates spent a day under pressure, with attacks from GC contenders coming as early as five kilometers into the stage. However, the Welshman never looked flustered and, after the race came back together again approaching the technical and undulating finish, he showed again that he’s the strongest rider in the race.
After getting himself into position on the Old Mill Lane climb with 600 meters remaining, Williams hit the front in sight of the line to easily beat Paul Magnier (SOQ) and Edoardo Zambanini (TBV). Behind, Joe Blackmore placed ninth to move up to fourth overall on his Tour of Britain debut.
”It was really tough, it was a really hard day,” says Williams. “The roads were really demanding, the weather was pretty bad, but in the end it came good. I’ve raced a lot this year with a group that has backed me and given their all for me, and today was no different. They did a stellar job to control the stage today, and it wasn’t easy to do that.”
The action started early: within five kilometers, in fact, as Julian Alaphilippe latched onto a move from local rider Ben Swift. Alaphilippe started the day third overall, 0:16 behind Williams, but handily Jake Stewart followed the Frenchman to give IPT a crucial presence in that move.
After that breakaway was reeled in, Soudal – Quick-Step tried to put Williams in trouble as crosswinds threatened to split the race, but the race leader’s team-mates ensured that no damage was done.
However, an eight-rider move then formed, one that featured a number of GC threats. Home rider Louis Sutton sat 0:31 down on Williams after stage 2, with four other riders within 1:37 of the Welshman. As more inclement hit the race, this group quickly amassed a lead that made Sutton the virtual race leader. However, the efforts of Simon Clarke, Ethan Vernon, and Nick Schultz neutralized their threat. So strong was Schultz that he obliterated the remnants of the peloton, with Alaphilippe and teammate Remco Evenepoel among those dropped.
Williams adds: “The stage seemed to settle down after 50 or 60 kilometers, and then the fireworks started again. It was hectic. But the way my teammates controlled that and brought the breakaway back was incredible. They set it up so that I could have a go again for the win.”
It could have been easy for riders to try long-range moves on the uphill approach to the finish line, but patience was key. Williams picked the right wheels, then timed his sprint to perfection. For the second day running, he had enough of a gap to celebrate the victory.
”We expected it to be an aggressive day with other teams trying to put us under pressure, which is how it went,” said DS Sam Bewley.
”We were pretty clear with the situation we wanted and how we would react and control different scenarios, but a plan is nothing more than that if you don’t have the team to execute.
”It was a pleasure to watch the team today. Our primary goal was to protect the jersey, but of course if the stage was an option then we would commit to that and the way the guys kept the race in our favor and the way Stevie finished it off was inspiring to see. The guys really were incredible today.”
Photos: Sprint Cycling / SWpix.com
