Michael Woods had given himself maximum chances to shine at the Montreal Cycling Grand Prix, where he announced himself as a potential winner on Sunday.
Under the deluge, the climber from Ottawa stayed as long as possible sheltered in a tent before reaching the start line, where the 159 other runners were already gathered around 10:10 a.m.
“I have four minutes left,” he told La Presse, looking concentrated before clipping on his pedals to join the peloton. Perhaps he remembered the road race at the 2019 Worlds, where he had given up, freezing.
Despite this precaution and the initiative of his Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) team in the first half of the race, Woods was not able to make his wish come true.
However, the Canadian was in the right place at the start of the 18th and final lap of the 12.3 km circuit, snug in the lead group of around twenty cyclists.
But when eventual winner Adam Yates attacked in the Camillien-Houde lane, Woods was gone from the radar screens. He crossed the finish line 15th, 55 seconds behind the Briton.
Looking sullen, he took refuge in a tent to change before receiving his award for best Canadian, a “title” he could hardly be satisfied with. He did not participate in the press conference for the winners.
“I’m really disappointed with the result and expected better,” Woods confirmed in an evening statement by IPT.
“Unfortunately I just didn’t have the legs on the last lap. I felt good, even with the bad weather at the start, but I didn’t have the legs at the end. »
Woods had a thought for his teammate Daryl Impey, the first to take action behind the escape Florian Vermeersch. The 38-year-old South African pulled over after 11 laps, returning to the team box in tears.
Guillaume Boivin and Hugo Houle took turns taking over. By their own admission, the two Quebecers were not in their best form.
Boivin was the first to give up, making a complete U-turn after Camillien-Houde’s 13th ascent.
“I couldn’t really do better,” said Boivin, who suffered a crash at the Renewi Tour in Belgium on August 26. “It’s disappointing for sure. »
The Longueuil resident praised the strength of Florian Vermeersch, who remained alone at the front while several attackers tried to join him in vain. This first portion of the race under the showers left its mark.
“No, I’m not satisfied,” Boivin said. It was not a great race on my part. I covered the breakaways at the start to try to ensure we were represented [at the front of the race] and not get into trouble. I didn’t have long legs. I did the best I could with the legs I had. »
Boivin had joined his team in the VIP zone when Houle walked past him, greeting the crowd, before entering the pits with two laps to go.
“We fought well, but for my part, after five hours, I had cramps,” explained the native of Sainte-Perpétue. I had really reached my limit. I’m a little disappointed, but I can’t do better today. »
The collective performance of Israel-Premier Tech in Quebec, where Corbin Strong finished second, and in Montreal was, however, cause for celebration, in his eyes.
“We ran well as a team, we showed that we were there. A podium in Quebec is excellent. We hoped for more today, but it doesn’t work every day. I’m proud of the way Israel-Premier Tech ran. We were seen at the front. We are making progress, and that’s good for the future. »
Amid controversy after the call-up of two left behind, the Canadian national team also experienced a difficult race, with none of its seven starters managing to reach the finish.
Matisse Julien, 20, was one of the few to see himself early in the race, but a rear derailleur failure doomed his attempt to get back at Vermeersch just as two counter-attackers were about to join him.
“It’s a shame because I think I was having my best day since June,” lamented the Laval resident, stage winner at the Ronde de l’Oise and the Tour de Beauce.
“Having known this morning that I was having such a good day, maybe I would have played it differently and stayed in the pack a little longer. But sometimes it doesn’t go your way. »
Unfortunately, Julien will not be able to recover since he was playing his last competition of the season. The Ecoflo Chronos color bearer will join Robin Plamondon next year with the French team CIC U Nantes Atlantique, where he will benefit from a stronger calendar.