Stevie Williams has shown why Welsh cycling has another senior to look forward to next year when he moves up from the U23 ranks.

Williams, from Aberystwyth, held off challengers to win overall victory at the 2018 Ronde de I’Isard in the Midi-Pyrenees, the biggest achievement of his career so far.

The 21-year-old had won the first two stages of the four-day race in France, winning on the first day’s summit finish to Eycheil before taking the victory the next day on the mountain top finish at Goulier Neige.

After a flatter stage to Boulogne-sur-Gesse on stage three, Williams led the race overall ahead of Belgium’s Julian Mertens by 28 seconds with one stage remaining.

Despite two punctures, the young Welsh star held on to his overall advantage to win by 20 seconds.

“I am over the moon” Williams said. “It’s unbelievable to win such a big race after an epic final stage. It’s not an easy win and it will gave me some self-confidence in my career.

“I want to thank my teammates, who were amazing during the whole race. We controlled it perfectly, and they set me up for every finish in the best possible way.

“On the last day, we had to battle against the elements, but we were strong enough to get through everything. It means a lot to be able to win a race like this, and it gives me nothing but confidence to keep on working and building from here.”

Williams – who rides for the SEG Racing Academy team – will move up from the under-23 ranks next year with the win in the Ronde de l’Isard by far his best result of his young career.

Having ridden for JLT-Condor for a year in 2016, Williams’ best results before this week were a second place in the Flèche Ardennaise in 2017 and third in the New Zeland Cycle Classic in 2016. He also placed ninth in the U23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège earlier this year.