Michael Woods "feeling really confident" for Tour de France after best-ever run-up

Michael Woods will be one of Israel - Premier Tech's leaders for the Tour de France, and he has on the announcement talked about the expectations and goals he will be taking into his first Grand Tour of the year.

“I’m really excited to get started with this year’s Tour de France. After Route d’Occitanie, I’m feeling really confident for the race," he said. Woods had a complicated first half of the season, but has - such as teammate Jakob Fuglsang - recovered his form in time for the Tour de France, having finished second at the Mercan'Tour Classic and then heading on to win La Route d'Occtanie in convincing fashion.

The 35-year old's recent success was his first stage-race win, and in terms of form and resistance to the heat that put many into serious issues throughout June, he's seemingly had no issue. With his peak form arriving at the perfect time, he'll be chasing stage wins at the Tour de France - aswell as possibly fighting for the KOM jersey. "The first week is going to be very demanding, very stressful and very technical. My first goal is just not to crash in this opening week" he stresses however.

"I’ve come close to winning stages the last two times I’ve done the Tour, but I feel that I’ve always been hampered by injuries from crashes. This time around, the goal is just to stay safe and then have the legs ready to go in the final two weeks. There are quite a few stages there, which are suited to me, and I hope to take advantage of as many of them as possible," Woods concluded.