Michael Woods looks ahead to spring races and looks for lost luggage

Not long after Michael Woods finished fifth overall at the Santos Tour Down Under, he was on the move. He and his wife Elly were facing jet lag and lost luggage as they tried to get settled in Girona, Spain.

“The Girona move has been tough,” Woods said. “My wife and I are really enjoying the area so far, but moving here, after flying from Adelaide, and having to adjust from the massive jet lag wasn’t easy. Also having our luggage get lost, and then moving into a new apartment, buying new appliances and furniture, and not speaking a lick of Catalan, has been a bit of a test.”

Woods has faced big moves before. When he rode for Amore & Vita – Selle SMP in 2014, he and Elly relocated overseas. That team, however, didn’t have the same support and resources as Cannondale Pro Cycling. Still, the process was taxing, like a stage race. When the couple needed to talk “Canadian” and grab some coffee, they headed to La Fabrica, the café run by Orica-GreenEdge’s Christian Meier and his wife Amber.

As Woods faced his logistical challenges, he knew he had just nailed his most recent cycling goals. It was his plan to get in the top five in Australia. Woods was happy he had done what he had set out to do, but looking back on the race, he felt he could still improve. “There were a few moments where I made mistakes, so I think the best take-away from the race is that I can be better,” he said.

He had had the full support of the team while riding the Tour Down Under. “One of the reasons I signed with Cannondale Pro Cycling team is that Jonathan Vaughters, and the team management, really believed in my abilities,” Woods said. “They felt I had a good shot at doing well in this race, and expected me to perform as a GC rider, so I don’t think they were surprised, just satisfied with their decision to put their faith in me as a rider.”

On Jan. 28, Michael Woods spoke with Charly Wegelius. The team directeur sportif discussed the Canadian’s season for the next few months. They decided to stay the course: Woods will build for the Volta a Catalunya in late March, and then ride in the Ardennes Classics in mid-April. “It’s tough to say what my role will be at the Volta a Catalunya,” Woods said, and then acknowledged that a lot can happen in a few months within a team, from injuries to hot streaks. “Whether it’s as a GC rider or riding in support of another rider, that race really suits my abilities. I think I could have a solid performance.”

First, though, he had to find his luggage. It’s a good thing his training was on a down week.