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Woods, a world-class climber, has recognized a Giro d’Italia stage win as the following accomplishment on his record.
Having gained a stage on the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana (twice), he says it will be “actually cool” to get a person win in any respect three Grand Excursions — one thing no Canadian has achieved.
Successful on house soil is one other objective of his. The Biking Grand Prix’s in Quebec Metropolis and Montreal, a part of the UCI World Tour, are set for Sept. 8 and 10.
Woods, who rides for Israel-Premier Tech, will compete on the one-day races for the primary time since 2019, when he completed eighth in Montreal and seventeenth in Quebec Metropolis.
He provides himself a greater likelihood of successful in Montreal as a result of the course in and round Mount Royal higher fits his model as a climber.
“The following factor is successful a stage on the Giro,” stated Woods, who additionally resides in Chelsea, Que., a small city close to Ottawa. “But it surely’s all the time necessary to me to do properly in Montreal and Quebec Metropolis. I began my profession there, it’s due to these races that I used to be capable of rise to this stage. So why not one thing like Montreal too?
“It’s one of many largest races of the 12 months for me.”
Woods says his win on the Tour de France solely provides him extra confidence to be aggressive in Montreal and purpose for an enormous consequence.
That solely is sensible contemplating the best way he gained.
Woods put forth a surprising solo effort up the well-known Puy de Dome volcano to erase a spot of practically two minutes and go 24-year-old chief Matteo Jorgenson lower than 500 metres from the end line.
“I used to be shocked by what I did as a result of with 20 kilometres left, 10 kilometres left, even 5 kilometres left, I didn’t suppose I may win the stage,” he stated.
“After I watched the footage after, I couldn’t imagine it. It’s unimaginable I used to be capable of win.”
Sebastien Arsenault, the CEO of Grand Prix Cyclistes Quebec and Montreal, says having a Canadian like Woods who’s not solely racing on the UCI Tour but in addition performing is very large for these races — the one ones of their variety within the Americas.
“He’s (nearly) 37 and simply instructed us he’s achieved the most effective numbers of his profession,” stated Arsenault. “I imply, we see the correlation along with his stage win on the Tour de France, he didn’t win that due to an enormous crash — he pedalled to victory.”
The races in Quebec Metropolis and Montreal maintain a particular place for Woods, a prime Canadian middle-distance runner turned professional bicycle owner at 25 years outdated after sustaining a sequence of stress fractures in his left foot.
Woods started his skilled biking profession at these occasions, and Montreal may be the place he ends it if every part falls into place.
The 2026 world championships are set for Montreal that September. Woods, nonetheless, is properly conscious that Father Time may get in the best way of issues since by then he’ll be 39 occurring 40.
He’s underneath contract along with his staff till 2025. From there it’ll rely on his well being, want and the extent he’s acting at.
Woods says he has little interest in racing at a stage decrease than the requirements he’s reached.
“I don’t need to be the man that doesn’t carry out on the highest stage, I don’t need to be racing if I’m not enhancing, if I’m not doing large issues,” he stated.
“If that’s the case in 2025 you then gained’t see me on the worlds in 2026. Nonetheless, if I’m nonetheless going properly, if I’m nonetheless excited, nonetheless racing on the highest stage, then yeah, that’s actually a dream objective to retire at that race in Montreal.”
For now, Woods nonetheless seems like he’s on the prime of his sport regardless of how a lot riders of their mid-to-low 20s dominate the game.
“This 12 months, I did a few of my greatest numbers ever in coaching. I’m feeling robust, and the starvation and the drive continues to be there,” he stated.
“I’m nonetheless feeling like I’m progressing, in order that’s why I’m nonetheless racing, that’s why I’m not retiring on the finish of this season, because of this I need to carry on going till a minimum of 2025.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Aug. 24, 2023.
Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
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