Michael Woods plots return to racing with Olympics in mind
After injury derailed his Olympic aspirations as a runner, Woods gets a second chance to shine on a course that suits his talents
Michael Woods has had Olympic aspirations since his running career. In the fall of 2007, he looked set to represent Canada in Beijing but an injury derailed those plans and eight years later the Ottawa native is preparing for the Rio Olympics, this time on a bike rather than in a pair of running sneakers.
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“The Olympics have been my number one priority since I started cycling,” said Woods. “There was a point just before I broke by foot where I thought I was going to make it for sure, I was just in such good form.”
Woods had achieved the Olympic B standard in the 1,500m in 2006. “I was on target to make those games, but then everything fell apart.”
Following the running injury, Woods made the switch to the bike. At the age of 23, his father bought him his first road bike and now he is riding in the WorldTour with Cannondale Pro Cycling.
“I only have five years of training on the road bike but I have almost 20 years of developing my climbing ability because it is so similar to running,” he said.
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In his first season at the sport’s top level, Woods has earned two top-three placings at the Tour Down Under with a fifth overall placing at the season’s first WT race. He’s had solid showings at the Volta a Catalunya and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and also rode to an impressive 12th place finish on the famed Mur de Huy at La Flèche Wallonne. Woods was preparing to ride his first grand tour at the Giro d’Italia in May but a wrist injury sustained at Liège Bastogne Liège derailed those plans.
Returning from injury can be frustrating but Woods says that staying relaxed and keeping things in perspective have been the most important in his recovery. That and the help of B2ten which support Canadian athletes with the goal of putting them on an Olympic podium have been vital to his recovery. Woods spent the Giro on the trainer, digging deep as he watched the peloton hit the race’s hardest climbs.
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“When I was on the trainer I didn’t lose that much fitness because every time the peloton hit a climb I would go as hard as I could and I wouldn’t get off the bike until the race was done,”  he said.
After getting back on the road he did a training camp in Boulder, Colorado with teammate Lawson Craddock. He then traveled to Girona anticipating riding the Tour de Suisse. With his wrist still not fully recovered however, he traveled back to Canada where he has been able to put the final touches on his preparations to return to racing.
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“At the moment my form is really good and probably the most frustrating part is watching the race results trickling in and knowing that I could be competitive at these races,” he said.
Despite the setback, Woods doesn’t feel the wrist injury has affected his Olympic preparations. With the season’s focuys on the Rio road race on August 6, Woods wants to be able to be more than just a participant in the race. “I have proven as a climber I am one of the strongest guys in Canada and the course plays out to my skill set.”
Woods thinks a group of 5 to 10 riders will make it over the Rio courses final decisive climb that comes 20-km from the finish. Woods is a climber but he has also proven that from a select group he has a good kick which he hopes to put to use at the Olympics.”The next month and a half I will be honing my climbing skills, getting my weight down and making sure that I can make it over that final climb with those 5 to 10 guys and hopefully get in a position to sprint for a medal.”
Woods is set to make his return to racing on July 12 at the Tour of Poland. He will then race the Clasica San Sebastian on July 30 which he says is, “like a mini Olympics. It’s a one-day classic which is very punchy and very hilly. It is going to be a good final test before Rio.” Woods also hopes to get a grand tour in his legs this season which likely means the Vuelta will be added to his race schedule.
Team Canada will announce the men’s and women’s Olympic roster on June 29 at the conclusion of the national road championships. Woods has likely secured himself selection for the team, “I am ready to represent Canada and I feel like it’s a spot that’s justified.”
