In a stunning turn of events that’s left the cycling world shaken, Welsh cycling star Stevie Williams has officially pulled out of two of the sport’s biggest showpieces — the 2025 Tour de France and the British National Road Race Championships — due to a persistent and nagging knee injury.
Williams, just 29 and fresh off a high from his triumphant win at the 2024 Tour Down Under in Australia, took to social media with a heartfelt announcement that immediately triggered an outpouring of support from fans and fellow athletes. In a raw and emotional post, Williams laid bare the physical and emotional toll his injury has taken.
“Since the start of my season in Australia, I’ve had an issue with my right knee — a quadriceps tendinopathy, which is very tricky to manage, and it hasn’t resolved,” he confessed.
This revelation comes as a major blow to both Williams and Team Great Britain, who were counting on his strength and tenacity to shine during the upcoming summer season. His gritty return during the Giro d’Abruzzo and the iconic Ardennes Classics had sparked hope among fans that he was back in form. But behind the scenes, the struggle was far from over.
“I was able to come back for Giro d’Abruzzo and the Ardennes but since then, things still aren’t completely right,” Williams admitted.
Despite his relentless efforts, the lingering injury proved too stubborn. Williams confirmed that he would not be lining up at the starting gate in Ceredigion, west Wales, for the National Championships (26-29 June) — a race held in his very own hometown of Aberystwyth. And heartbreakingly, the world-renowned Tour de France, starting 5 July in Lille, will go on without him.
“Unfortunately, this means I won’t be able to race the national championships in Wales, or the Tour de France. I’m gutted to miss them, especially racing Nationals in front of a home crowd.”
The timing couldn’t be more brutal. The home crowd was eagerly awaiting a once-in-a-lifetime chance to cheer on their local hero in the scenic terrain of Wales — and Williams’ absence will be felt like a thunderclap through the valleys and beyond.
For many athletes, being sidelined by injury is the cruelest twist of fate. For Williams, who lives and breathes the sport, the pain isn’t just physical — it’s spiritual.
“As a cyclist, the only thing you want to do is race, so this season has been incredibly frustrating. But I know that these things can’t be rushed,” he said, with the quiet wisdom of a veteran who knows the long road to recovery all too well.
His message resonated across the cycling community, as well-wishers from around the globe flooded his comments section with encouragement and admiration for his bravery. Though he may be off the roads for now, Stevie Williams’ fighting spirit is far from broken.
In a season where expectations were sky-high, this twist feels like a devastating detour — yet perhaps, it’s the pause before an even greater comeback.
