26 April 2024

Highlights of cyclist Stevie Williams' victory at La Flèche Wallonne will be shown on S4C at 21:00 on Friday 26th of April and will be available on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.

The 27-year-old Welshman from Capel Dewi near Aberystwyth was the first to cross the finishing line at the classic Belgian race.

Seiclo: Stevie a La Flèche Wallonne will feature an exclusive interview with Stevie and other Welsh cyclists including Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe, Eluned King and Elinor Barker.

Stevie says:

"I'm a quietly confident person, I know the legs are there. The trouble is with cycling you can go in with the best legs and the most confidence in the world but things can change as had happened with this race and the weather. The race had turned 360 after only an hour."

It was the most difficult and arduous Flèche Wallonne race ever with the weather described as 'apocalyptic'.

The terrible weather meant a number of the favourites to win had to leave the race early including Stevie's fellow Israel-Premier Tech team-mate and Belgian local, Dylan Teuns.

Stevie says:

"In Wales the weather is very bad, and that set me up because I remember riding in terrible weather. I was riding up the Elan valley in 2012 in the snow and rain in clothes that didn't fit me on a bike that didn't fit me with the wind coming into the side of my face."

Of the 174 who started the race, only 44 managed to finish.

Danish rider Mathias Skjelmose was one of the favourites to win this year's race, had to be physically pulled away from his bike as he suffered from symptoms of hypothermia.

Stevie said:

"I remember thinking during the race that everything is a mess….With only 20 or 30km to go I thought I had a chance to win the race."

Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas said:

"He's well liked, had a lot of bad luck with injuries, it's good to see him finally get some consistency.

"If he can stay injury free and continue this progression he's got great few years in front of him and I'll be looking forward to watching him on TV with a coffee or a beer, it's exciting times."