Canadian Woods takes biggest win of Tour de France career

PUY DE DOME, France –

Canadian Michael Woods put in an impressive solo effort on Sunday to claim the biggest success of his career at the top of a legendary Tour de France climb as two-time champion Tadej Pogacar further narrowed the gap to general classification leader Jonas Vingegaard.

“I’ve never won a stage of the Tour. It’s something I’ve talked about and wanted to do, but I’ve never been able to achieve and I eventually succeeded,” said Woods.

“I’m still having a pinch myself moment. I can’t believe I did it. I’m really proud of myself, really proud of my team. It’s special.”

Woods, who rides for the Israel-Premier Tech team, has no general classification ambitions and was part of an early breakaway that allowed the main contenders to form early in stage nine. He managed to overtake American Matteo Jorgenson just 500 meters from the top after his 24-year-old rival jumped less than 50 kilometers from the leading group.

Born in Toronto and raised in Ottawa, 36-year-old Woods then dropped Jorgenson on his own and reached the top of the Puy de Dome, a famous volcanic crater in the Massif Central region of south-central France where a stage 35 years ago.

“Because Jorgenson was so strong, (knew) it was going to be very, very hard to come back and I doubted it,” said Woods after the race. “But I wasn’t really worried about that. I just focused on myself and kept believing. Regardless of the outcome, I would do my very best to get to the top.”

A group of 14 experienced riders managed to get away shortly after the start of the race. On the hilly roads of the Limousin region, the peloton first kept them on a tight leash. They were finally cleared to go and built up a lead of over 16 minutes.

There were many attacks in the break and Jorgenson managed to get away clear with 47 kilometers to go. The young American continued to push hard on the roads leading to the foot of the final climb and opened up a minute ahead, but it didn’t last long.

“I started to feel empty with a kilometer to go, and before I knew it Mike was there and passed me and it was a surprise, but there was absolutely nothing I could do,” said Jorgenson.

Fellow Canadian Hugo Houle, Woods’ Israel-Premier Tech teammate, won stage 16 of last year’s Tour. Woods finished third that day.

Houle’s victory was Canada’s first stage victory in the historic race since Steve Bauer captured the opening stage of the Tour in 1988.

Bauer is now sporting director at Israel-Premier Tech.

“Mike has once again shown us that he is one of the best climbers in the world. Because of my personal relationship with Mike and the other Canadians on our team, I couldn’t be prouder,” said Israel Premier-Tech team owner Sylvan Adams. , a Canadian-Israeli entrepreneur.

Woods and Houle are joined by compatriot Guillaume Boivin on Israel Premier-Tech’s Tour de France squad.

“I’m 36 years old, turning 37 this year, I’m not getting any younger,” said Woods, who also owns two stage wins in Spain’s Vuelta. “Winning a Tour de France stage was my ultimate goal and I saw the window close.”

Pogacar and Vingegaard rode well behind the breakaway and were again in a league of their own in the group of contenders. After another great collective effort from Vingegaard’s Jumbo-Visma teammates in the final incline that devastated the field, Pogacar launched his attack with 1.5 kilometers to go and accelerated again on the steepest of inclines.

Vingegaard lost ground but did not panic and was able to limit the gap to eight seconds to keep the yellow jersey.

Ahead of Monday’s first rest day, Vingegaard holds a 17-second lead over Pogacar in the overall standings, with Jai Hindley in third, 2 minutes 40 seconds off the pace.

Frenchman Pierre Latour finished the 182.5 kilometers (113 mi) stage in second place, with Matej Mohoric on the podium. Jorgenson finished fourth.

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With files from The Canadian Press.