Cyclist Michael Woods faces another setback as a lung infection forces his withdrawal from the Tour de Suisse.
Take a Seat, Cycling Fans!
Michael Woods, the resilient Canadian champion, has once again faced a stumbling block in his 2025 racing season. Despite a thriving altitude training camp, Woods was forced to abandon the grueling Tour de Suisse mid-race due to a dark horse enemy—a lung infection.
At age 38, Woods returned to competition this week after recovering from a March collarbone break. He managed to race his way to 22nd overall after three action-packed days, including a commendable 12th place in Tuesday's stage 3. However, the mountains rose high on stage 4, which was won by João Almeida, and Woods found himself tapping out, leaving the race behind.
In a poignant Instagram post, the Israel-Premier Tech rider expressed his frustration: "Cycling, oh cycle, you cruel, cruel game! For the second time this year, I crashed headfirst into victory, only to stumble out of the starting gate. This time it was a wily enemy—a lung infection. It's a hard pill to swallow, ending my tenure in the Canadian national champ jersey this way."
Woods embarked on his season with pizzazz, taking part in the Villawood Men's Classic, Tour Down Under, Surf Coast Classic, and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, all in Australia. His best result was a 10th-place finish at the Tour Down Under. Following these races, he geared up for the Faun-Ardèche Classic and Faun Drome Classic in mid-March, but fate dealt a harsh hand when he suffered a fractured collarbone at Milano-Torino.
Since then, Woods has been off the tracks, but the Tour de Suisse marked his comeback race after a three-month hiatus. The Tour de France remains on his agenda, with the event scheduled to begin in Lille on July 5. However, it's uncertain if he'll make a full recovery in time for the big event.
Stay tuned for more updates on Michael Woods and the 2025 cycling season!
P.S. - We've heard some rumors that Woods will be participating in the 2025 Tour de France despite his recent health challenges. However, official confirmation is yet to be announced, so fingers crossed for our beloved cycling champion!
Sports fans, the setback for cycling champion Michael Woods continues as he was forced to abandon the Tour de Suisse due to a lung infection. Despite a strong comeback after recovering from a collarbone break, the lingering effects of the illness have put his participation in the 2025 Tour de France in question.
