Michael Woods on track to return to Giro d’Italia in 2018

It seems Michael Woods is Giro d’Italia-bound once again in 2018. EF Education-Drapac presented by Cannondale principal Jonathan Vaughters indicated Wednesday that the Ottawa rider would make a return to the Italian Grand Tour. “There’s seeing what Mike Woods can do at the Giro,” Vaughters said. In 2017, Woods placed 38th in the Giro before setting a Canadian high-water mark in the Vuelta a España with seventh.

Vaughters also confirmed Rigoberto Uran aiming for the Tour de France after placing runner-up to Chris Froome last season. “Rigo is uniquely suited to this Tour. It’s a dynamic parcours with so many different elements. Rigo is an adaptable, Darwinian rider, and we hope he can be very competitive,” Vaughters said.

Also on Wednesday, Mitchell Docker became the first rider to race in the EF Education-Drapac presented by Cannondale pink at the Australian national championships men’s criterium. Mitchelton-Scott’s Caleb Ewan took top honours. Mustachioed Docker, who transferred over from Mitchelton-Scott, is one of nine new faces on the team joining 16 returnees for 2018.

A solid first race from @Mitch_Bowen. Well done to winner, @CalebEwan.
We now move onto the road race this Sunday. #ArgyleArmada pic.twitter.com/8aqXk8qULq

— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) January 3, 2018

A fortnight before the first WorldTour event, the Santos Tour Down Under, team principal Jonathan Vaughters outlined EF-Drapac’s 2018 season in a press release.

Docker will be helping Belgian Sep Vanmarcke in his Classics campaign. In 2017 Vanmarcke was third in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in his first season back with the team after five years with LottoNL-Jumbo and its earlier incarnations. Vaughters said, “Sep wasn’t healthy last year, and I’m eager to see what he can do at full strength in the spring.”

EF-Drapac has more sprinters this year, with Italian Sacha Modolo, Brit Daniel McLay and Docker as its fastmen.

Two young riders join Uran as the squad’s Colombians. National U23 time trial champion Julián Cardona (20) comes over from Medellin-Inder, while Daniel Martinez (21) transfers from Italian Pro Continental side Wilier-Trestina where he rode two Giros.

2018 EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale
New riders in italics
Matti Breschel (Denmark)
Nate Brown (USA)
Brendan Canty (Australia)
Julian Cardona (Colombia)
Hugh Carthy (Great Britain)
Simon Clarke (Australia)
Will Clarke (Australia)
Lawson Craddock (USA)
Mitchell Docker (Australia)
Alex Howes (USA)
Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands)
Kim Magnusson (Sweden)
Daniel Martinez (Colombia)
Dan McLay (Great Britain)
Sacha Modolo (Italy)
Daniel Moreno (Spain)
Logan Owen (USA)
Taylor Phinney (USA)
Pierre Rolland (France)
Tom Scully (New Zealand)
Rigoberto Uran (Colombia)
Tom Van Asbroeck (Belgium)
Sep Vanmarcke (Belgium)
Michael Woods (Canada)