'Step by step I'm feeling stronger and getting better' – Stephen Williams gives positive update on knee injury rehab after almost a year out from racing

Stephen Williams, the promising Welsh talent from Team NSN, has provided an encouraging update on his recovery from quadriceps tendinopathy, an injury that has sidelined him for nearly a year. Williams, who last raced in October 2023, confirmed he is back on the bike and feeling "stronger and better," signaling a potential return to competition in the coming months after an extensive rehabilitation period.

This update is significant for NSN, a team that has seen its fair share of injury woes and rider turnover. Williams, a former Arctic Race of Norway winner, was expected to be a key climbing domestique and occasional stage hunter. His prolonged absence has undoubtedly impacted team strategy, especially in stage races where his consistent climbing ability would be invaluable. His return would offer a much-needed boost, both in terms of performance and morale, as the team navigates a challenging season.

Williams’s cautious optimism is a welcome development, though the road back to top-tier racing form after such a long layoff is notoriously challenging. The peloton, after all, waits for no one.