Stage 3 of the Tour Down Under saw defending champion Stephen Williams crash, which hindered his climb performance and left him in 23rd place. Despite sustaining minor injuries, he struggled to keep pace with the lead pack during a crucial climb. Williams, currently 35 seconds behind the new leader Javier Romo, expressed determination to recover in the remaining stages of the race, recalling his strategic advantages from the previous year. As the competition tightens, he remains hopeful about improving his standing as the race continues.
It was a bit of a shit fight all day. I came down in a crash just before the climb. It was just a touch of wheels and I came down. Then I tried to recompose and come back and I was alright.
I just didn't have the minerals on the climb and I fell behind. It's not ideal but so is life and we have three more days to try and be good.
Hopefully we can jump back from this and try and be good for the rest of the race.
Last year, Williams made the difference not only by keeping his rivals close on the summit finishes in the finals of two stages but by snatching time bonuses, too.
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