STEVIE Williams will be co-leader for the Bahrain Victorious team in Saturday’s The Classic of the Falling Leaves.

The race returns to its usual autumnal slot this year. According to the alternation between Bergamo and Como as start and finish cities, the 2021 edition of Il Lombardia will see the peloton facing a new 239km demanding course from Como to Bergamo.

Capel Dewi’s Williams, fresh from his first victory as a pro, boosted by the GC win at Croatia’s CRO Race last weekend is in top form.

It will be the debut in the Classics for the young Welsh climber, who is looking forward to riding his first Monument race to aim to a solid result with the support of his teammates.

Six climbs for a total of 4,400 meters of elevation and the explosive hill of Bergamo Alta in the finale await the riders before the traditional flat finish in the centre of the city.

A Monument that suits a rider like Dylan Teuns, who was 3rd in 2018, is competing for a 4th time. The Belgian will be the leader of Bahrain Victorious, lining up with 5 out of 7 riders that participated in Gran Piemonte on Thursday.

Alberto Volpi, Bahrain Victorious SD: “It will be a very demanding and tough day in the saddle.

“The course will make an important selection without any doubt.

“The start list includes strong riders, and we also have a lineup of all respect.

“We want to excellently perform as we did throughout this season, to end it at our best.

“We are confident because we have good riders, and we’re sure that they can honour this prestigious race.

“The team spirit will count too, and this group has it for sure.”

Bahrain Victorious lineup for Il Lombardia: Santiago Buitrago, Mikel Landa, Matej Mohori?, Domen Novak, Hermann Pernsteiner, Dylan Teuns, Stevie Williams.