Jeff Williams (cyclist)

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Jeff Williams

| fullname =

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|8|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = Gorton, Manchester, England

| height =

| weight =

| discipline = Road

| role = Rider

| ridertype = Climber

| amateuryears1 = 1979

| amateurteam1 = GS Strada

| amateuryears2 = 1980

| amateurteam2 = Manchester Wheelers' Club

| amateuryears3 = 1981

| amateurteam3 = ACBB

| proyears1 = 1986

| proteam1 = Raleigh – Weinmann

| proyears2 = 1987

| proteam2 = Raleigh – Banana

| majorwins = National Champion (1982)

}}

Jeffrey Williams (born 18 August 1958) is an English former professional road racing cyclist from Manchester. He rode for Great Britain at the Olympic Games,{{cite web|url=http://www.the-sports.org/cycling-williams-jeffrey-results-identity-s2-c2-b4-o11-w31603.html|title=Jeffrey Williams|work=All sports Site| publisher=The-Sports.org|access-date=1 January 2010}} and won several national championship titles.

Cycling career

In 1979 Williams won his first British National Hill Climb Championships{{cite web|url=http://cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/Default.aspx?&gv553__gvac=2&tabid=151&gv553__gvff0=MHC_TT&gv553__gvfl0=0 |title=National Hill Climb Results |publisher=Cycling Time Trials |access-date=1 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721202628/http://cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/Default.aspx?&gv553__gvac=2&tabid=151&gv553__gvff0=MHC_TT&gv553__gvfl0=0 |archive-date=21 July 2011 }} setting a new course record that still stands to this day.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/cycling/Hill-Climb-record-threat/article-355534-detail/article.html|title=Hill Climb Record|publisher=Herald Express|access-date=1 January 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505150736/http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/cycling/Hill-Climb-record-threat/article-355534-detail/article.html|archive-date=5 May 2013|url-status=dead}} A rival, Andy Hitchens, who remembers it well, said: "Williams looked like he'd been on starvation rations for months — he was built like a sparrow. Some people assume that there was a howling tailwind that day, but there wasn't. It was sunny, but cool.” In 1980 Williams joined the Manchester Wheelers' Club and was expected to win International honours during the next two or three seasons.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchesterwheelers.co.uk/_Files/ClubHistory/6-a_history_of_manchester_wheelers_club_chapter_6.pdf|title=A History of Manchester Wheelers’ Club|access-date=1 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415163658/http://www.manchesterwheelers.co.uk/_Files/ClubHistory/6-a_history_of_manchester_wheelers_club_chapter_6.pdf|archive-date=15 April 2012}} Later that year he won his first stage in the Sealink International finishing four minutes clear. However Williams was left disappointed in the National Hill Climb Championships that year beaten into second place by Malcolm Elliott by only one fifth of a second after being knocked off his bike whilst warming up and receiving a broken nose and severe bruising. At the age of 21 Williams competed for Great Britain in the individual road race at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=3638|title=Moscow 1980 Squad|publisher=British Olympic Association|access-date=1 February 2010|archive-date=3 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203112346/http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=3638|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/jeff-williams-2.html |title=Jeff Williams Statistics |work=Olympic Sports |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=1 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026024015/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/jeff-williams-2.html |archive-date=26 October 2012 }} He was sponsored by Harry Hall Cycles.{{cite web|url=http://www.harryhallcycles.co.uk/history.asp |title=A Brief History of Harry Hall Cycles |date=January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425102818/http://www.harryhallcycles.co.uk/history.asp |archive-date=25 April 2010 }} Williams finished 47th, alongside Stephen Roche. At the end of the 1980 season Williams publicly declared his intention of living and racing in France for the 1981 racing calendar with a view to turning professional therefore joining the French club ACBB (Athletic Club de Boulogne Billencourt), Europe's most successful sports club.{{cite web|url=http://uk.babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acbb.asso.fr%2F&lp=fr_en&.intl=uk&fr=yfp-t-702|title=ACBB|access-date=1 December 2009}}

In 1982 Williams completed a unique double, of the British Road Race Championship and Hill Climb Championship becoming the first person to do so in the same season. Williams competed in the individual road race at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecgf.com/search/athlete.asp|title=1982 Commonwealth Games|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|date=February 2010}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/brisbane-1982/athletes|title=1982 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/45757|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation}}

In 1986 he joined Raleigh riding with Paul Sherwen, Mark Bell, Paul Watson and Jon Clay.{{cite web|url=http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/ |title=Raleigh-Weinmann |publisher=Mémoire du cyclisme.net |date=February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117080719/https://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/ |archive-date=17 January 2008 }} Williams retired at the end of the 1987 season. He was famed for his hill climbing ability and considered by many to be one of the most exciting riders, he scaled the heights throughout his career, but also plumbed the depths.

Trivia

Williams starred in the intro for the Channel 4 coverage of the Tour de France throughout the late 80s to mid 90s (see video {{YouTube|243BJu0zB50}}). The music was composed by Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks.{{cite web|url=http://freespace.virgin.net/pete.shelley/france.htm |title=Tour de France theme tune |date=April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328114841/http://freespace.virgin.net/pete.shelley/france.htm |archive-date=28 March 2010 }}

Family Links

Jeff was brother-in-law to fellow Olympic cyclist Peter Longbottom (13 May 1959 – 10 February 1998).{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingarchives.com/familiebanden1.php?letter=W| title=Family Links|publisher=Cycling Archives|date=February 2010}} He is also the younger brother of Mike Williams a former professional rider.

Palmarès

;1979

: 1st Tour of the Peaks

: 2nd Archer Grand Prix

: 2nd Overall, Premier Calendar

: {{flagicon|GBR}} 1st British National Hill Climb Championships

;1980

: 1st stage 5, Sealink International

: 1st Archer Grand Prix

: 1st Tour of the Peaks

: 1st Tour of the Pennines (pro-am)

: 1st stage 2, Yorkshire Classic (Harrogate)

: {{flagicon|GBR}} 2nd British National Hill Climb Championships

: 47th Olympic Games, Road race

;1981

: 1st Porthole Grand Prix{{cite web| url=http://www.paulcurran.ndo.co.uk/Articles/1981/810301-PortholeGP.html| title=1981 Porthole Grand Prix info|date=April 2010}}

: 2nd Grand Prix de la Ville de Lillers

: 2nd Paris – Ezy

: 2nd Tour of the Peaks

: 1st stage 2, Sealink International

: {{flagicon|GBR}} 1st British National Hill Climb Championships

;1982

: 4th Overall, Circuit des Ardennes

: 4th Overall, Sealink International

:: 1st stage 5, Sealink International

: 20px Winner of the British National Road Race Championships (Amateur)

: 2nd Archer Grand Prix

: 2nd Overall, Premier Calendar