Ottawa’s Michael Woods, the first athlete to both run a sub-four-minute mile and complete the Tour de France, announced he’s retiring from professional cycling at the end of the season.
The 38-year-old made the announcement in a blog post Monday. In it, Woods detailed the “significant” toll 11 years of professional cycling has taken on his health and family life, citing those as his reasons for calling it a career.
“The time I have spent away from my family has been long,” he wrote.
Woods cycles to the finish line to win the ninth stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France in July 2023. The Canadian rider announced his plans to step away from the sport Monday. (Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images)
In his post, Woods describes how he was unable to kiss his kids when he picked them up from school to avoid getting sick before a race.
“Every aspect of my life has been examined and studied to maximize my ability to ride a bike. That all-encompassing pursuit I have loved and have no regrets doing, but it is something that can only be sustained for so long,” he wrote.
“For the reasons mentioned above, I have made the decision to retire from professional road cycling at the end of this season.”
Woods began cycling professionally with Team Garneau-Quebecor in 2013 after a foot injury put an end to his track and field career.
He has ridden with the Israel-Premier Tech team for the past five seasons. He won a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships, and competed in the Olympics in 2016, 2021 and 2024.
WATCH | Michael Woods talks pivoting to cycling from track and field: 
Ottawa’s Mike Woods started cycling after injuries put an end to his track and field career — and now he’s making waves on the elite cycling circuit.
As he bids farewell to professional cycling, Woods thanked his family, his coach of 12 years Paulo Saldanha, his teammates and others.
“I was able to realize that goal. I managed to become one of the best cyclists in the world, and it is a journey I am damn proud of,” he wrote.
Woods said he plans to explore new areas of endurance sport, but said more details will come later.