Woods makes WorldTour debut at Tour Down Under

by Aaron S. Lee

Canadian cyclist Michael Woods is counting down the minutes until he signs on to the 130.8-kilometre opening stage of the 2016 Santos Tour Down Under and officially make his WorldTour debut on Tuesday, Jan. 19, in Adelaide, South Australia.

It was starting to feel like now or never for the 29-year-old Ottawa native, but his desire and determination to sign a WorldTour contract never wavered, and in August he signed a two-year deal with US-registered Cannondale Pro Cycling after a stellar 2015.

“I spent all my career wishing I was here and now being on a WorldTour team there is a confidence you get from wearing the jersey,” Woods told Canadian Cycling Magazine after making his first start with his new team at the 51-km People’s Choice Classic criterium to herald in the TDU on Sunday. “I’ve done WorldTour races before but only in national team kits, so this is so cool.

“I came in to this sport with a goal and I knew getting to this level would be hard but I never lost sight of that even though about five years ago I thought that maybe that opportunity had passed me by.”

The runner-turned-cyclist indeed never gave up, and he claims joining Optum Pro Cycling last year was a critical move in helping him put his plans in motion.

“There were a couple factors in my success last year,” said the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah stage winner and silver medalist. “In previous years, I had the numbers and the watts to compete with top guys in North America, but I wasn’t executing and wasn’t positioning myself.

“I think one of the biggest factors for me was getting on to Optum and having some great leadership from Eric Wohlberg and Jonas Carney and having the support of my teammates over the course of the season which helped me tremendously in getting me in position.

“My coach Paulo Saldanha also worked really good all season in preparing me as well.”

Former teammate Will Routley, who Woods credits for helping him during a rough time following the death of a family member, totally expected the Silver City’s Tour of the Gila (UCI 2.2) stage winner’s promotion.

“While I was teammates with ‘Woodsie’ for one season, it only took a week to realize what a great guy he is,” Routley told CCM. “He is the definition of a superb athlete, gifted with ability, but his mentality, focus and hard work are what has enabled him to shine.”

Joining Woods in the six-day stage race to kick off the 2016 UCI WorldTour season are fellow Cannondale newbies Patrick Bevin (NZL) and Wouter Wippert (NED), as well as former Orica-GreenEdge rider Simon Clarke (AUS). Team veterans Moreno Moser (ITA), Ruben Zepuntke (GER) and Alberto Bettiol (ITA) are also on the start list.

Upon signing with the team, Woods was clear from the outset of his intention to target Rio in August, and perhaps join another Canadian Olympian and a former Cannondale-Garmin rider who just joined Trek-Segafredo.

“I’ve been told coming in to not worry about necessarily filling Ryder’s shoes, as those are some massive shoes to fill as he is a Grand Tour winner,” said Woods of the 2012 Giro d’Italia winner. “Rio is my biggest goal of my calendar and the Olympics course really suits me and it’s a dream of mine to represent Canada at the Olympics.

“When I first talked to team manager Jonathan Vaughters, I told him my biggest goal this coming year was the Olympics and he responded very positively.”

Woods feels that Canadian cycling is on the verge of turning a corner, and seriously competing at an international level.

“It’s really opened the window for guys like Ryder and myself to both do the Olympics in Rio and other guys as well,” he explains. “Because of the strength of our national program we are now looking to send way more guys to international competitions like the Olympics and world championships.”

One rider eager to have Woods aboard is former Drapac sprinter Wippert, who sings Woods’ praises after just meeting him at training camp last month.

“Woods is one of the most enthusiastic bike riders, always smiling and in a good mood, and a real team player that flies uphill,” Wippert shared with CCM. “And he is the first guy that told me he is happy that he broke his foot some years ago. That’s the best thing that happened to him, because that’s how he met his wife and started riding a bike.”

Woods, who initially took up cycling in 2007 after suffering repeated foot fractures, is eager to make a mark in Australia before taking a month off to move both himself and his wife of one year, Elly, to their new European base in Girona.

“The TDU is one of the biggest races on my calendar this year,” said Woods, who has targeted Stages 3 and 5. “I’m not coming here to carry bottles with is rare for a neo-pro.

“They’ve given me a shot right off the bat and I really want perform and live up the expectations of the team,” he concluded. “After that I have a month off to move my wife and I Girona and get comfortable with our surroundings.

“From there, my schedule is not yet set in stone, but I do hope to do a Grand Tour this year, and, if all goes well, the Vuelta a España would fit nicely.”

Aaron S. Lee is a pro cycling and triathlon journalist for Eurosport and a guest contributor to Canadian Cycling Magazine.