Mike Woods wants the win at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
The Israel - Premier Tech rider hopes to end the season in style
Ottawa’s Mike Woods is hungry for a big victory on home turf. He’s headed to the Grand Prixs Cyclistes Québec et Montréal and he said he’s fit and ready for them. On Thursday in a press conference, he said his lead-up has been good.
“I’m ready now. I’ve done some good training in recent weeks and recovered well after the Tour, during which I fell ill. But after a good week of recovery, I was able to resume training. Now my legs are ready,” he said.
Woods has had a solid season in 2023. He took the overall at the four-day stage race in France, the Route d’Occitanie, and 7th overall at the Volta Catalunya. During the Classics season, he took an impressive fourth at La Flèche Wallonne, and 12th at Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Of course, his biggest result of the year was his spectacular win at the Tour de France. Woods powered up the final kilometres of the Puy de Dome in Stage 9, in a brilliant come-from-behind victory which saw him pass American Mattoe Jorgenson in the finale.
The Israel-Premier Tech rider will be racing both of the Grand Prixs, but thinks Montreal is a better shot for a win.
“The goal for me is really Montreal. So is Quebec City, but Montreal is a circuit more suited to my style, with its steep gradients,” he said. But I definitely want to race well in Quebec City too.”
The Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec is the first race in the big weekend of racing, taking place on September 8, with the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal two days later on September 10.
