Former Tour de France & Vuelta stage winner Michael Woods announces retirement: "The toll it has taken on my health has been significant"

Israel – Premier Tech have confirmed that Michael Woods will retire from professional cycling at the end of the 2025 season, closing the chapter on one of the most remarkable late-blooming careers the sport has ever seen.

The Canadian, who only turned to cycling at the age of 25 after a successful running career, went on to become one of the most feared climbers in the World Tour. In 11 seasons as a professional, Woods claimed some of the biggest prizes in the sport, including a Tour de France stage victory on Puy de Dôme in 2023, a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships, podium finishes at the Ardennes Monuments, and victories on some of cycling’s most iconic summits.

In a heartfelt message shared through the team, Woods reflected on the unique privilege and challenges of life as a pro rider. “Every time I do a race, I feel an immense sense of luck to be doing it, as it is truly a pure luxury constructed by our own creativity. Riding around France, while literally billions of people watch, is my job, and that is nuts,” Woods wrote. “As lucky as I have been to do this job, it also has its downsides… The toll it has taken on my health has been significant, and the time I have spent away from my family has been long.”

The 38-year-old admitted that the demands of the sport increasingly conflicted with family life. “Being a father, in particular, has shown me how at odds being one of the best riders in the world is with being a good dad. Unlike most sports, pro cycling, due to its extensive calendar, is a job that requires unending commitment… That all-encompassing pursuit I have loved and have no regrets doing, but it is something that can only be sustained for so long.”

Despite those challenges, Woods’ achievements are all the more extraordinary given his unconventional path into the sport. Having been one of the world’s best middle-distance runners before injury cut short his athletics career, Woods only entered the professional peloton in his mid-20s, armed with little more than a bike gifted by his parents and a determination to see how far he could go. Within a decade, he was winning on cycling’s biggest stage.

“Considering I started this sport at 25 years old, on a $1,000 bike gifted to me by my parents, knowing nothing about it, is insane,” Woods said. “I managed to become one of the best cyclists in the world, and it is a journey I am damn proud of.”

Throughout his message, Woods paid tribute to the many people who played a role in his career—from his wife and parents to his long-time coach Paulo Saldanha, Israel – Premier Tech owner Sylvan Adams, and teammate Guillaume Boivin, with whom he shared many of his hardest days on the road. He also thanked the Ottawa cycling community and directors such as Juanma Garate and Jonathan Vaughters, who took a chance on a rider with an unconventional background.

Looking forward, Woods confirmed that while he is stepping away from road cycling, he is not done with endurance sport altogether. “I still have big ambitions and plans for the coming years that will involve exploring new arenas in endurance sports. I’ve got some epic plans, so stay tuned for these,” he wrote.

As he prepares for his final races in IPT colours, Woods expressed gratitude above all. “To go from lying in bed at night thinking, ‘What have I done? Where did I go wrong?’ to where I am today, I feel eternally grateful,” he wrote. “So, to all the people who have helped me along the way—whether it was a simple encouraging message, cheering me on from the side of the road, or individuals like Nick Vipond and Kevin Field, who didn’t burst into laughter when I told them I wanted to make the Olympics—I want to say thank you. Thank you for it all.”

Michael Woods’ final appearance as a professional cyclist will come later this season, bringing to an end a career defined by determination, late-blooming brilliance, and an unwavering passion for the sport.