Welshman Stephen Williams pulled off the biggest victory of his career by winning La Fleche Wallonne in Belgium.

The Israel-Premier Tech rider, 27, is the first British male winner of the 88-year-old spring classic.

But fellow Briton Tom Pidcock was among several riders to abandon the race amid torrential conditions in Ardennes.

“I’m so happy. I’ve watched this race so many times on television and dreamed of coming with good legs to try to win it. I’m on cloud nine,” Williams said.

“I saw the ‘300m to go’ line and I thought if I could put five seconds into the group and get near the line, then I could hold on.”

Williams came into the race on the back of victory in the Tour Down Under and a series of strong displays at the Volta a Catalunya but few predicted this surprise win.

He thrived in the rain-soaked conditions which saw several leading contenders abandon, such as Pidcock, Mattias Skjelmose and Tiesj Benoot, and only 44 riders finish.