Stevie Williams has committed his future to Israel – Premier Tech, signing a new deal that keeps him with the team until 2028. This extension makes the Welshman, alongside Derek Gee, the longest-contracted rider in the team’s history.
Williams, who faced a career crossroads at the end of 2022, was offered a lifeline by IPT for the 2023 season. He quickly repaid this opportunity, winning both the Tour Down Under and La Flèche Wallonne, marking the team’s first WorldTour stage race and one-day race victories, respectively.
Reflecting on his journey with the team, Williams expressed his satisfaction: “I feel like I have found my place on a team where I can get the best out of myself on the bike. As we have seen with the way I have been racing, especially from last year’s Giro d’Italia onwards, I’ve taken a real step up. It has been rewarded with some nice results and even though I am fairly new on the team, it feels like I have been here for ten years not one year.”
He continued, “I’m 28 years old now and the next four years are probably in that window when I become my best and keep improving, so to have this offer from the team gave me huge confidence and I didn’t hesitate to extend with IPT. I am so happy in the team, and I see the way I have stepped up in just one year here so I can’t wait for the next four.”
Currently making his debut at the Tour de France and set to make his Olympic debut next month in Paris, Williams’ progress has been noteworthy. General Manager Kjell Carlström remarked, “It has been a real pleasure to watch the way Stevie has developed with us over the past year and a half. He faced a lot of adversity in the early years of his career and now, he has finally reached a point where he is able to realise his potential. I think a lot of that has come from finding the right environment and culture with us at Israel – Premier Tech. Stevie has delivered his best career results with us, results that have also contributed to the team’s history. He is an amazing bike rider and I think the best is yet to come.”
Williams’ breakthrough began with his first WorldTour win at the Tour de Suisse in 2022, following a persistent knee injury. This victory was followed by a successful campaign in 2023, where he claimed a stage and the General Classification at the Arctic Race of Norway.
IPT owner Sylvan Adams praised the decision to support Williams at a critical time: “A couple of years ago, we kind of saved Stevie’s career, or at the very least, a year of his career, when we signed him at the last minute, together with his teammate, Nick Schultz, following the folded B&B Hotels team debacle. Stevie immediately showed us that he is a talented rider, and we have now renewed his contract for the second time. Stevie is a winner, an instinctive rider who understands bike racing. His big wins this year have elevated our team.”
Adams added, “Stevie is part of Israel – Premier Tech’s DNA, and well loved by his teammates. I’m so proud of how he’s flourished because we gave him opportunities that he didn’t get earlier in his career, and of course, our full team support. Stevie will be representing Great Britain at the Olympics in Paris, which is additional validation of his remarkable success. I also hope to see him do something special at the Tour in the next two weeks. Congratulations, Stevie, you’ve earned all of this. Much more to come.”