Many had a chance to win, but only one rider seized it - and in doing so, Justin Williams etched his name in history. This morning - before he flew back to the US - Justin discussed the personal and national significance of this victory:...
Reporter
"They aren't many 2 time champs."
Justin Williams, Two time Cross Country Champ
"Yes, I know, it made me feel good. It made me feel like there is a huge sense of pride to have something that is so important to the country that I am from."
Reporter
"You beat the second place finisher Patrick Raines by over 5 minutes, 5 minutes and 2 seconds. It couldn't have been the outcome you expected. Is it still surprising to you?"
Justin Williams
"Yes, it's funny because, the couple days before I had said to myself - you visualize what you want to happen and that's how you help yourself become successful and I was like the perfect way to win it would be to go solo and like for it to actually happen it's unbelievable."
Reporter
"At some point where you incredulous or surprised at how the race was developing that nobody had organized a real chase?"
Justin Williams
"So, the whole time even though I'm at the back I'm watching who followed, how many times, how many times Nissan followed moves. I'm counting in my head that's one less moves than I did some going to have a little bit more leg so then when we get down the stretch, I already have an understanding of whoever is with me. I already been watching the whole race in the fact that they are there, Ernest Meighan was following me around and I was like, I know what effort I'm using to get across and I know he is a lot younger and he still has a lot of development to come. I know once we get down, he is going to be a little bit fatigue that I would be because I have been doing it for a lot longer. So yes, it's just like really paying attention to who doing what and what kind of legs they have. Yes, it's pretty unbelievable, I don't think I started to believe until I was going to win until like the Marion Jones Stadium that's when I was like, oh I think I won the race but yes, it's definitely a relief for me and it was a relief for everyone. I have been in the back of the field before when I won the race and everybody cursing you as you come in to town, so it was definitely the opposite of that. Okay, everyone is going to be okay at least for this weekend. So, it's a good feeling."
Justin rode unattached this year, but says he hopes to bring a team including his younger brother Corey next year.
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