Michael Woods

Latest Stories

Mountain Racing

Mike Woods Did Leadville and Got Flashbacks to One of the Craziest Races on the Road Calendar

Former WorldTour pro Woods debuted on a 32-inch MTB, dug deep, and raves about his Leadville experience

August 22, 2026

Gravel

Mike Woods Won Canadian Gravel Nationals—And Then It Got Canceled. Here’s His Account of the Race.

A first person account of one of the most bizarre situations in gravel cycling in years.

June 17, 20265

Gravel

At Unbound Gravel, Mike Woods Found a Challenge Far More Punishing than Any WorldTour Race

Kevin Costner, masochism, and a journey to the world's biggest gravel race.

June 10, 20267

Gravel Racing

Michael Woods Went to Scotland for The Gralloch. Haggis Pizza and Bradley Wiggins Were a Bonus

Retired WorldTour racer recalls the bumps, bonks, and unusual recovery snacks of a trip to Scotland for his final tune-up before Unbound.

May 21, 20262

Gravel Culture

Embracing the Organized Chaos of Spanish Gravel Racing

Former WorldTour pro Michael Woods gives a brief history of cycling in Girona, and his take on why the Traka is something we shouldn't try to change.

May 9, 2026

Road

Michael Woods Is Finding Joy in Cycling Again After Years of Obsessively Riding to the Sport's Top Level

In his latest column, Michael Woods writes of rediscovering the joys of racing, a pathway forward for North American racing, and letting go of the past.

May 4, 2026

Road Culture

What Happened to Road Racing in America?

Former WorldTour pro Mike Woods revisits North American bike racing to find a scene much changed from his days on the domestic circuit over a decade ago.

April 27, 20266

Road Culture

What Happens When Two Cyclists Race Skimo

Tour de France stage winners Mike Woods and Amund Jansen take on Skimo, the winter sport that's drawing in endurance athletes from all over.

February 27, 20262

Gravel Racing

'You Signed Up for This': Mike Woods Confronts the Hard Truths of Being a Privateer

Mike Woods takes on Santa Vall, his first race since retiring from the WorldTour, and discovers some brutal truths about life and racing when you have to do everything yourself.

February 18, 20266

Gravel

Life After the WorldTour: Mike Woods' Next Chapter as an Athlete Goes Way Beyond Gravel

Mike Woods fills us in on his WorldTour retirement plans. Sure, he’s racing gravel, but there’s much more to it than that.

February 3, 20266

Road Racing

Epilogue for Mike Woods: It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Racing Bikes

Tour de France stage winner and world championship medalist Woods announces impending retirement, has big plans for the future.

August 18, 20255

Tour de France

The Champs-Élysées: The Last Dance of the Monkeys at the Tour de France

After years of being bored by the processional stage into Paris, Woods couldn't wish for anything more after a grueling third week at the Tour.

July 27, 2025

Tour de France

How to Win from the Break in the Tour de France, from a Pro Who’s Done Just That

Michael Woods fills us in on his years of experience racing at the pointy end.

July 25, 20251

Tour de France

The Cruel Realities of Racing the Tour de France, the Hardest Endurance Event on the Planet

Pain at the Tour is a unique type of punishment: 'You don’t control your effort; it is dictated to you, and you can never truly predict how much or how little you will have to suffer.'

July 24, 2025

Tour de France

The Testosterone Lows and Apathy Zones of a Tour de France Rest Day

Remembering to pay bills and finding time to shave are a battle in a 'rest day' that's not always so restful.

July 21, 20251

Tour de France

Watching Pogačar's Ascent to Greatest Ever from Inside the Tour de France Peloton

Tadej Pogačar's rivals are in just as much awe as we are.

July 19, 20254

Tour de France

Mike Woods Had a Dumoulin Moment Yesterday at the Tour de France

Riding a relentless pace and ingesting 120 grams of carbs per hour had Mike Woods stopping at an RV mid-race yesterday for a bathroom break.

July 15, 20252

Tour de France

Ego and the Gamble of the Breakaway Rider in the Tour

After a week of playing it safe in the back of the peloton, Michael Woods is on the hunt for a stage win.

July 14, 20252

Tour de France

The Key to Team Camaraderie at the Tour de France? A Shared Playlist.

Cycling can be a highly individualistic sport, so keeping team camaraderie high is essential.

July 12, 2025

Tour de France

The Subtle Art of Sagging a Tour de France Time Trial

Some riders will be trying to win stage 5. Most, however, just want to get through as easily as possible.

July 9, 2025

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