Giro d’Italia: Canadian Cyclists Michael Woods and Riley Pickrell Withdraw After Separate Crashes
On May 9, 2024, the Canadian cycling community was left reeling after two of its own, Michael Woods and Riley Pickrell, both teammates on Israel-Premier Tech, were forced to withdraw from the prestigious Giro d’Italia due to injuries sustained in separate crashes.
Woods’ Crash and Withdrawal
Woods, a seasoned Grand Tour competitor, was involved in a crash with teammate Nadav Raisberg, who broke his hand, and four other riders, approximately 10 kilometers from the site of Pickrell’s accident. Despite initially showing no signs of serious injury, Woods displayed symptoms of a mild concussion overnight and was subsequently ruled out of the competition.
“We were gearing up for the climb when one rider caused a chain-reaction crash. My teammate, Mike Woods, fell, and I, who was riding right behind him, crashed over him and was thrown up. When I landed on my hands, I immediately knew something was broken, but I got back on the bike and prayed I was wrong.” – Nadav Raisberg
Pickrell’s Crash and Withdrawal
Pickrell’s crash left him with a bloodied face and a lost helmet. Although the 22-year-old from Victoria was feeling well enough to start the next stage, the team identified slight confusion, indicating a possible concussion. As a precautionary measure, Israel-Premier Tech made the difficult decision to withdraw Pickrell from the race, citing the risk associated with the stage.
Impact on General Classification Standings
The crashes had a significant impact on the general classification standings, with Woods dropping to 107th, Raisberg to 164th, and Pickrell to 169th.
The Giro d’Italia and Grand Tour Events
Wednesday’s fifth stage, covering 178 kilometers from Genova to Lucca, marked Woods’ return to the Giro after a six-year hiatus. The 37-year-old Ottawa native was aiming to complete a trifecta of Grand Tour stage victories, having won stages in the 2018 and 2020 Spanish Vuelta editions, as well as last year’s Tour de France. Woods’ best Giro result was a runner-up finish in the fourth stage in 2018.
The 107th edition of the Giro d’Italia, one of cycling’s three Grand Tour events, will conclude on May 26 in Rome after 3,400 kilometers of grueling racing. The Tour de France and Spanish Vuelta, the other two iconic Grand Tour events, are set to begin on June 29 and August 17, respectively.
Israel-Premier Tech’s Canadian Connection
Israel-Premier Tech, co-owned by Canadian-Israeli entrepreneur Sylvan Adams and fellow Canadian Kevin Ham, boasts a strong Canadian presence. The team’s head sports director, Steve Bauer, is a Canadian cycling legend who raced in nine editions of the Tour de France, finishing fourth overall in 1988. Several other key team personnel, including performance director Paulo Saldanha, coach Christopher Rozdilsky, and team nutritionist Vanessa Zoras, are also Canadian, and co-title sponsor Premier Tech is a Canadian company.
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