Michael Woods returns to road cycling for Montreal World Championships

Canadian cyclist Michael Woods is returning to professional road racing for a final appearance at the 2026 World Championships in Montreal. After retiring from the WorldTour at the end of the 2025 season due to a back injury, the 39-year-old veteran has spent much of 2026 competing in gravel and mountain bike events, including the Leadville Trail 100.

The Canadian Cycling Association has selected Woods to join the national team for the Montreal event, where he will serve in a supporting role. He aims to provide leadership and experience to help team leader Derek Gee-West. Woods' selection follows a strong performance at the National road championships, where he secured seventh place.

Woods, a former Tour de France stage winner and 2018 World Championship bronze medalist, expressed pride in wearing the maple leaf one last time on home soil. His rostered teammates for the road race include Hugo Houle, Michael Leonard, Nicholas Zukowsky, and Pier-Andre Côté.