Ottawa cyclist eyeing 2020 Olympics after Tour de France finish
Posted Jul 31, 2019 08:06:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ottawa cyclist Michael Woods is relaxing with his family in Spain and still dreaming big after finishing 32nd in the 2019 Tour de France.
The 32-year-old runner-turn-cyclist found himself in the top 10 of the standings after the first few stages of the three-week-long race before a couple of crashes left him with two broken ribs.
“An incredible three weeks of highs and lows,” said Woods. “I had some good results, I had some bad crashes, and just this overwhelming experience. So I'm still kind of processing everything at the moment, but [I'm] really happy.”
Woods explained that, after his crash on Stage 11 where he suffered the injury, his race was in question.
“I had a good long talk with one of my team directors, and we just talked about really just trying to break down the day and not really get overwhelmed by the fact that I had 10 days left. He said to just focus on the next few kilometres in front of me,” said the cyclist.
The mental obstacle had been passed.
“I knew that once I got through that first day, each day I'd improve just a bit more, and that was the case,” added Woods.
The Ottawa native hopes this wasn't his last Tour de France, as he thinks he can return and contend for a podium position, as long as he's healthy.
Woods is getting set to race again soon in San Sebastian, Spain. He said he also has his eyes on another big goal — the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.
“That race really suits me.”
Listen to the full conversation between Michael Woods and Cormac MacSweeney on 1310 NEWS' Ottawa Today:
