By Owen Morgan
Stevie Williams put a potentially career-threatening knee-injury behind him with his first professional stage win in Croatia on Saturday.
The Bahrain Victorious rider produced a brilliant solo finish to win the queen stage of the 2021Cro Race – formerly known as the Tour of Croatia.
The win put the Aberystwyth cyclist into the leader’s red jersey and he enjoys a 17-second lead going into Sunday’s final stage.
This time last year, Williams told Dai Sport of the “dark days” he endured during an 18-month ordeal when he feared a mystery knee injury could end his hugely promising career.
But the Welshman put that torment behind him on Saturday as he won the 137.5-kilometer long fifth stage of this year’s edition of the CRO Race from Rabac to Opatija.
Afterwards, a delighted Williams said: “I’m over the moon to take the stage here. It was such a hard day.
“I’m very happy and it does so much for my confidence. I’m so grateful for the support of the team and support of the team mates, they’ve been great all day.
Leading on GC and Team Classification, @stevierhys_96 and the boys ready for the final day @cro_race 🏴👊#RideAsOne #CRORace pic.twitter.com/Wb0tZgR1zg
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) October 3, 2021
“To do this late in the season is great, to go into winter with it, to build on it and try and get some more wins.”
Williams and fellow British rider Simon Yates, of Team Bike Exchange, had led the race over its most difficult ascent of the day, claiming the King of the Mountain points in Kastav.
On the way from Viškovo to Rijeka, the Austrian Riccardo Zoidl (Team Felbermayr Simplon Wels) joined Yates and Williams at the head of the race and the trio managed to create a half-minute advantage over a group of 15 riders.
The chase group managed to reduce the gap to 30 seconds at the entrance to Opatija. With Yates and Zoidl tiring in the last 10km, Williams went for a solo ride to victory.
The former SEG Racing Academy rider crossed the finish line with a 10-second lead over second placed Norwegian Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and third, Mick van Dijke (Jumbo-Visma).
The win is a huge achievement for the Ceredigion rider who has battled back from a serious knee injury which first came to light in the winter of 2018 shortly after he made his dream move to the profession ranks.
🎙️ @stevierhys_96 : “I am expecting a tough race tomorrow. I will give everything, and hopefully, I will come out with the red jersey”. #RideAsOne #CROrace
📸 CRO race / KL Photo pic.twitter.com/TKlx7mwe4D
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) October 2, 2021
However a collaboration between Sport Wales and his racing team, combined with Williams’ hard work and dedication has seen him return to action and start to realise the potential which saw him gain a fifth place finish at the Under-23 version of the Giro D’Italia earlier in his career.
Bahrain Victorious Sports director Franco Pellizotti was delighted to see his rider succeed on Saturday after all he has been through.
“I am happy for the win, said Pellizotti. “But especially because the win goes to Stevie, who has in previous seasons suffered a lot. He went through difficult times, and here is the result. I am super happy for him.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s final stage, Williams said: “I’m expecting a tough race tomorrow. I’ll give everything, and hopefully, I’ll come out with the red jersey.”
Today’s sixth stage is 157.5km from Samboor to Zagreb where the race will finish at the Croatian National Theatre.