Mike Woods rolled into Lake Cowichan as one of the pre-race favourites for gravel national championships, but not the only one. In a thrilling duel, the former WorldTour pro was pushed to his limits by reigning national champ Ben Perry and mountain biker-turned-gravel expert, Andrew L’Esperance.
That effort, as of Sunday night, may have been for nothing. Cycling Canada is still reviewing whether or not it can award championship results in a race that was, for some riders, halted mid-race.
“One of the deepest I’ve ever gone.”
Woods, post-finish.
Heat and hurt at gravel nationals
“I’m disappointed, for sure,” Woods said after Cycling Canada’s announcement was broadcast over the event speakers. “I went so deep. One of the deepest I’ve ever gone. To now find out that there might be a podium or results? It’s a shame.”
On paper, Sunday’s racing didn’t sound brutal, especially compared to the longer, harder races with major elevation changes that Woods thrived in while racing as a pro. How did just 128km with only roughly 2,000m of elevation gain hurt so much?
“Well, I’m not putting in the same level of preparation that I used to. That’s part of why I’m finding it so hard in the finals of these races,” Woods admits, before adding, “Gravel’s also just a general burn. It’s not on and off like a road race.”
Between that, less preparation than his pro days and, some intense heat on the day (Woods said, coming from cooler weather in Andorra, the “heat really caught me by surprise”) and stiff competition, it made for a fiercely contested championship race.
That last factor, he was prepared for. The route stared with a traverse over to a big loop, featuring a main climb and bomber descent. Starting the second lap of that loop, Woods attacked.
“I knew that I’d almost have to bluff in order to win. I’d have to go really hard on the second last climb, go into the red and hopefully be able to suffer more than others.”
Woods did gain an advantage on the climb. Behind, though, Perry and L’Esperance had joined forces and were working together to reign Woods in.
“I had no information, I mean, no one has information in a gravel race. But it was a headwind, the heat started to pick up and I started running out of water,” Woods said.
Ben Perry and Michael Woods on the start line in Lake Cowichan. Photo: Jeff Bartlett
“There was a lot of self-doubt” A blind TT to the finish
Knowing only that the two behind were likely chasing, the final 27km back to the finish became a mental game as much as a physical effort.
“There was a lot of self doubt, a lot of wondering when they were going to come back. I threw up at one point. When the motorbike came up beside me at one point and said maybe it’s cancelled I thought “oOk. Maybe I’m ok with that.” Then he said it was still on.”
So Woods pushed on. As did the duo behind him. Woods crossed the line first, but looking to be in a world of hurt. He was still sitting on the ground in the shade when the announcement that results might not count came across speakers in the finish area.
“To suffer, to go through that and die a thousand deaths and then find out that there’s no result…” Woods said, trailing off with a frustrated laugh. “Damn.”
After a career on the road spent racing in the full heat of a European summer, Woods isn’t so sure the elite race should have been cancelled. Temperatures were hovering around 30 degrees Celsius when Woods finished (though organisers are now saying they measured temperatures much higher elsewhere on course).
“I think it’s not enough to stop a race. I’ve done far hotter races that haven’t been stopped. Unless it’s obscenely hot, like 40 degrees. This is a national championship. You have to honour it.”
Whether or not Woods will be, officially, the national champion remains to be seen.