Stephen Williams wins Tour Down Under 2024 and final stage in the Adelaide Hills

Tour Down Under 2024 second place Jhonatan Narvaez (left) and overall winner Stephen Williams (middle) celebrating after the final stage in the Adelaide Hills. (Supplied: Tour Down Under)

Welshman Stephen Williams has won this year’s Tour Down Under in South Australia after a thrilling final stage in the Adelaide Hills.

The Israel-Premier Tech rider went into the day leading on a countback from Scottish hope Oscar Onley, who had beaten him in the penultimate stage up Willunga Hill yesterday.

Several other riders were also a chance for victory, including former leader Isaac del Toro.

Riders faced a challenging 128-kilometre trek from the inner suburban Unley up to Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills.

It was initially a game of cat and mouse, with the leading contenders content to sit back in the peloton for much of the day.

It allowed breakaways to regularly get away from the main bunch, with South Africa’s Stefan De Bod at one stage in the overall race lead.

However with four kilometres to go the peloton had caught up, with team tactics to prove critical to the finish.

Del Toro made a move with less than two kilometres to go, putting the challenge to Williams and the other contenders.

It didn’t last, with Williams seeing his opportunity with 250 metres to go, putting in a withering final burst to finish first and secure the Tour victory.

Jhonatan Narvaez was second, with del Toro third in the stage, a result repeated for the overall placings.

“That finish was perfect for me, it’s punchy, it’s just I’ve got a knack for being able to hold and hold and hold. Luckily I was able to get on the wheel, read the situation and capitalise,” Williams said immediately after the finish.

“Oh what a stage, over the moon honestly, the support the team have given me in the last two days, incredible. I can’t thank them enough.

“Just how hard this sport is and to win races, they don’t come round very often and to do it here in Australia, first (UCI) World Tour race for the season is fantastic.”

It’s Williams’ biggest professional moment and sets him up well for the 2024 season.

“Really proud to come down here and start the season like this on the front foot, head back now to Europe and continue on,” he said.