Bio
Raised in the capital of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario), Mike Woods grew up with a pair of skates on his feet and a hockey stick in his hand. His dreams of being a pro hockey player though, like his diminutive stature, were short lived. By high school, Woods found that his 5’9′ 135lbs frame was better suited for the running track than the skating rink.
Through hard work and natural talent he established himself as one of the best runners in Canada. Breaking records in the under 20 mile and 3km and winning the Pan American jr. Games 1500m. Woods to this day claims the title of having run the fastest mile on Canadian soil, by a Canadian (3:57.48). With his successes on the track, Woods earned a full scholarship at the University of Michigan, where he graduated in 2008 with an undergraduate degree in English.
Running Results
- Canadian Record Holder in U-20 Mile & 3000m
- 5x Canadian National Champion
- 2006 – top 50 World Ranking in 1500m
- 2006 – Big Ten Indoor Mile Champion
- 2005 – Pan American Junior Champion & 1500m Record holder
- 2005 – Canadian Jr Track & Field Athlete of the Year
- Fastest Mile run by a Canadian on Canadian soil
During his time at Michigan, Woods quickly rose up the ranks in the American Collegiate system, and, at the age of 19, earned a top 50 world ranking in the 1500m. However, his quick rise was followed by an even greater fall. Through poor guidance, diet, and over-training Woods suffered a series of stress fractures to his left navicular bone, ultimately forcing him out of the sport. Despite several comeback attempts, Woods would finally hang up his shoes after breaking his foot for the final time in the fall of 2011.
Throughout his battle with stress fractures, Woods found himself turning increasingly to the bike as a source of cross training and stress relief. “I used to steal my dad’s bike and go for rides when I was injured. It was cathartic and filled this hole left behind from running” says Woods, who would soon find himself, on the insistence of friends, entering local group rides and races. It did not take Woods long to realize his potential in the sport and, at the age of 25, he decided to make one final push at being a pro athlete, this time as a cyclist.
In the span of four years Woods fought the odds, overcame setback and injuries, and established himself as one of the top climbers in North America. In 2015 he wore yellow at the Tour of Utah, and claimed his first professional victory in the race’s 5th stage. This result, along with several others, earned him a spot on the 2016 Cannondale Pro Cycling team, making Woods, at 29, one of the oldest neo pros in cycling history.
| 1st | La Route d'Occitanie, Overall & stage 3 | 2022 |
| 2nd | Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes | 2022 |
| 1st | stage 2, Gran Camiño | 2022 |
| 3rd | stage 8, Tour de France | 2021 |
| 1st | stage 4, Tour de Romandie | 2021 |
| 2nd | stage 8, Tour de Suisse | 2021 |
| 2nd | stage 4, Volta a Catalunya | 2021 |
| 1st | stage 2, Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var | 2021 |
| 3rd | stage 4, Tour of Britain | 2021 |
| 3rd | stage 5, Tour de Suisse | 2021 |
| 3rd | Giro dell'Emilia | 2021 |
| 1st | stage 7, Vuelta a España | 2020 |
| 1st | stage 3, Tirreno–Adriatico | 2020 |
| 2nd | stage 14, Vuelta a España | 2020 |
| 2nd | stage 6, Vuelta a España | 2020 |
| 3rd | La Flèche Wallonne | 2020 |
| 1st | stage 2, Herald Sun Tour | 2019 |
| 1st | Milano-Torino | 2019 |
| 3rd | UCI Road Race World Championships | 2018 |
| 1st | stage 17, Vuelta a España | 2018 |
| 2nd | Liège-Bastogne-Liège | 2018 |
| 1st | stage 5, Tour of Utah | 2015 |
My Seasons
Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var
Volta a Catalunya
Itzulia Basque Country DNF
Amstel Gold Race
La Flèche Wallonne
Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Tour de Romandie
Tour de Suisse
Tour de France DNF
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Tour of Britain
Giro dell'Emilia
Milano - Torino
Team Homecoming Camp
complete
Team Camp - Girona
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol DNF
Gran Camiño
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya DNF
Itzulia Pays Basque
La Flèche Wallonne
Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Tour de Romandie
Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes
Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge
La Route d'Occitanie - La Dépêche du Midi
Tour de France DNF
Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa
La Vuelta ciclista a España DNF
Tour of Britain
Giro dell'Emilia DNF
Tre Valli Varesine DNF
complete
Faun-Ardèche Classic
Faun Drôme Classic DNF
Tirreno-Adriatico
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
In The News
In The News
- Bitterly Disappointed Michael Woods Withdraws From Tour De France After Stage 20, Prepares For Quarantine
- Michael Woods wins 2022 Route d'Occitanie
- Route d'Occitanie: Michael Woods climbs to victory on stage 3 and takes GC lead
- The Michael Woods Episode
- Michael Woods on Israel-Premier Tech: ‘This is Canada’s team’
- Woods: I don't see myself as a veteran but I don't feel like an impostor
- Michael Woods: ‘I felt like an imposter when I first turned pro’ (paywall)
- Michael Woods: I want people in pro cycling to be more environmentally conscious
- Canadian cyclist Michael Woods just misses podium after gruelling 234-km ride
- Tour de France: Michael Woods crashes in the breakaway but takes polka-dot jersey
- Garneau Launches 'Rusty' Woods Limited Edition Shoe
- Michael Woods stinging with regret after missing shot at Flèche Wallonne top steps
- Michael Woods withdraws from Itzulia Basque Country following stage 3 crash
- Mike Woods is 'All in For The Olympics' in 2021
- Michael Woods out of Tirreno-Adriatico with illness but determined to feature in Ardennes
- VeloNews exclusive: Michael Woods on his opening race with Israel Start-Up Nation
- Mike Woods' new Factor Ostro VAM Disc
- El orgullo de Canadá listo para un nuevo capítulo
- Mike Woods says older riders can still compete with young stars like Tadej Pogačar and Marc Hirschi
- Mike Woods Signs with Inspire Athlete Management
- Vuelta a España: Michael Woods wins stage 7
- Woods' win at Tirreno-Adriatico hints at form for World Championships
- Michael Woods: ‘The crash was so traumatic, I’m still impacted by it’
- Virtual win offers real encouragement for Woods after injury
- How Michael Woods transitioned from a runner to a WorldTour bike racer (paywall)
- Michael Woods’ journey from a broken leg to a brand-new mindset
- Recovering Woods finds motivation in postponed Tokyo Olympics
- Racing thoughts: Professional cycling and mental health
- Michael Woods: «La vie est belle!»
- Woods sustains broken femur in Paris-Nice crash
- Woods targets World Championships, Olympics and a Monument – Q&A
- Michael Woods: I'm not doing this forever, so I'm trying to enjoy every moment
- Woods: I feel like a pro cyclist after the Tour de France
- Player's Own Voice podcast: Michael Woods on how to make peace with pain
- Q&A with Michael Woods on the trials and triumphs from his debut Tour de France
- The first man to run a sub-4-minute mile and finish the Tour de France
- Michael Woods breaks two ribs in Tour de France crash
- A Former Competitive Runner Is Shining at the Tour de France. We Have Questions
- On your bike! How Canadian cyclist Michael Woods went from breaking running records to riding in the Tour de France
- Michael Woods: ‘I want Canadian fans to see a Canadian at the front of the best race in the world’
- Michael Woods: How personal tragedy inspired Canadian cyclist's greatest success
- Woods renews with EF Education First
- Michael Woods: 2018 is a year I'll cherish but one I'll cry about in years to come
- Mike Woods achieves rare Canadian cycling feat at road race worlds
- Meet the Guy Who Started Racing Bikes and Reached the World Tour 3 Years Later
- Vuelta stage 17: Tearful Woods dedicates win to lost son
- Despite recent crash, Canada's Mike Woods ready for second crack at Spanish Vuelta
- Trading spikes for spokes, Michael Woods finds a career in professional cycling
- MICHAEL WOODS - The Entertainer
- Woods lights up Zoncolan with big attack
- Giro d'Italia: Woods suffers illness, crashes but battles on
- Woods aiming to give Canadians someone to cheer for again at Giro d’Italia
- Woods sheds newbie status on Liège podium
- Woods aims to become more complete rider as Giro bid looms
- Mike Woods Interview - A Breakthrough Year
- Woods returns to Cannondale for two more years
- Michael Woods amazing Vuelta ride has him contemplating future GC ambitions
- Canadian cyclist Michael Woods having the race of his life in Spain
- Michael Woods: ‘I’m pinching myself sitting on Froome’s wheel’
- Cannondale-Drapac believes Woods can deliver the Vuelta goods
- The running man heads to the Vuelta a Espana - Q&A with Michael Woods
- A sub-4-minute miler at age 18, Rusty Woods is now lighting up pro cycling at age 30
- Cannondale’s Woods makes big splash in WorldTour debut
- Elite runner-turned-cyclist Woods making good on talent
Michael Woods announces commitment to 2021 carbon neutral season3
Photo Gallery
