By Canadian Press

Canadian rider Michael Woods wins Stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico, takes race lead

Sep 9, 2020 | 10:07 AM

SATURNIA, Italy — Powering up a climb so steep that bystanders gave riders helping pushes, Canadian Michael Woods won Stage 3 of the Tirreno-Adriatico on Wednesday and took the overall lead.

Woods, who will race alongside four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome next season on the Israel Start-Up Nation team, was unbeatable on the final ascent up the Muro di Poggio Murella climb that preceded the uphill finish at Saturnia.

The 33-year-old from Ottawa is currently riding for EF Education First Pro Cycling. The Israel Start-Up Nation team is co-owned by Canadian-born Sylvan Adams, a former Canadian Masters cycling champion who emigrated to Israel in 2015.

Woods left behind rivals including 2018 Tour champion Geraint Thomas on the 20% gradient and summited alone. Polish rider Rafal Majka managed to catch Woods on the twisty downhill on the other side. But on the rolling uphill that then followed to the finish, Woods outsprinted Majka to the line.

“The last climb, it was real hard,” said Thomas, who was 10th, 20 seconds behind Woods. “Woodsy sort of kicked with 500 (metres) to go and I was close to the limit there, I didn’t want to go all the way into the red.”

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The 217-kilometre stage started in Follonica.

Majka, who rides for the Bora-Hansgrohe team, is now five seconds behind Woods.

Wilco Kelderman of the Sunweb team is third overall, 26 seconds behind Woods.

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The Associated Press