Michael Woods

Michael Russell Woods (born 12 October 1986) is a Canadian racing cyclist, who rides for UCI WorldTeam Israel Start-Up Nation.

Athletics career

Woods' first sport was ice hockey and his childhood ambition was to play as a left wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to becoming a cyclist, Woods was a promising middle-distance runner, setting Canadian national junior records in the mile and 3000 metres in 2005, as well as taking the gold medal in the 1500 metres at the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. However, he suffered a recurring stress fracture in his left foot, exacerbated by excessive training and racing, resulting in his running his last race in 2007. Woods underwent surgery twice in order to correct the problem without success. He took up cycling initially as cross-training before friends persuaded him to enter races.

Woods was taught English at school by Paul Dewar, who was later elected as a Member of Parliament. Woods attended the University of Michigan on a track athletic scholarship, graduating in 2008. Whilst at Michigan, he was coached by Ron Warhurst.

Cycling career

Woods began cycling professionally with Team Québecor Garneau in 2013.

On 20 August 2015 it was announced that Woods would join Cannondale for the 2016 cycling season.

In 2016, Woods was officially named in Canada's 2016 Olympic team. Woods was also named in the start list for the 2017 Giro d'Italia. He finished the 2017 Giro, his first grand tour, in 38th place, taking two fifth-place stage finishes along the way and helping teammate Pierre Rolland to win a stage. Woods was later named in the start list for the 2017 Vuelta a España where he finished his second Grand Tour in 7th place, taking one third-place finish and five top-tens.

In 2018, Woods scored what he described as "the best result of my career" by finishing second in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège race. In September 2018, Woods won Stage 17 of the Vuelta a España, which finished up a steep climb to Balcón de Bizkaia. On 30 September, Woods finished third in the road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria. It was the first medal for Canada at the World Championships since Svein Tuft's silver medal in the time trial in 2008, and their first medal in the road race since Steve Bauer's bronze-medal performance in 1984.

In July 2019, he was named in the startlist for the 2019 Tour de France. In October 2019 he won the oldest classic race, the 100th edition of Milano–Torino. In August 2020, it was announced that Woods was to join Israel Start-Up Nation from the 2021 season, on a three-year contract. He represented Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics and finished in fifth place in the men's individual road race.

2013

9th Overall Tour de Beauce

2014

4th Road race, National Road Championships

6th Overall Tour de Beauce

2015

1st Clássica Loulé

2nd Overall Tour of Utah

1st Stage 5

2nd Philadelphia International Cycling Classic

4th Overall Tour of the Gila

1st Stage 5

10th Overall Tour of Alberta

2021

2nd Overall Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var

1st Stage 2

3rd Giro dell'Emilia

4th La Flèche Wallonne

5th Road race, Olympic Games

5th Overall Tour de Romandie

1st Stage 4

5th Overall Tour de Suisse

5th Overall Tour of Britain

5th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

5th Milano–Torino

9th Giro di Lombardia

Tour de France

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Giro d'Italia	—	38	19	—	—	—
Tour de France	—	—	—	32	—	DNF
Vuelta a España	—	7	34	—	34	—
Major stage race general classification results
Race	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Paris–Nice	—	54	—	—	DNF	—
Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	—	—	8	—
Volta a Catalunya	18	37	79	6	NH	11
Tour of the Basque Country	53	12	29	—		DNF
Tour de Romandie	—	—	—	10		5
Critérium du Dauphiné	—	—	—	DNF	—	—
Tour de Suisse	—	26	—	—	NH	5

Classics results timeline