Woods to lead EF Education First-Drapac at Giro d'Italia

EF Education First-Drapac announced Tuesday their roster that will compete in the upcoming Giro d'Italia set to start in Jerusalem with a 9.7km time trial on May 4. Canadian Michael Woods will lead the eight-man team that includes a handful of climbers, a few rouleurs, and a sprinter, according to a press release on the team's website.

"My big goal for this Giro is to get a stage win," Woods said. "I haven't won a WorldTour race yet, and with 21 stages on tap, I'm hoping I can win one of them."

The team noted that the squad for this year's Giro d'Italia is made for the mountains but deep enough to contest an array of stages, from lumpy profiles to sprint finishes.

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Woods placed seventh overall at the Vuelta a España last year and recently placed second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. "The Giro is going to be another step in Mike's career. After a difficult start for him this season, I think he arrives in Israel exactly as we wanted. If he enjoys every day, if he continues to feel like he is living his dream, I believe this next month will be a really successful one," said the team's director Juanma Garate.

In the mountains, Woods will have support from Nathan Brown and Hugh Carthy. "My goal is to support the team's goals in helping Mike achieve a high position on the general classification. I'd like to play an important role for him in the high mountains and show what I'm capable on over the steepest terrain. If I get the opportunity to have my own success on individual stages, I will take it and race aggressively," Carthy said.

Brown, who is starting his third Giro d'Italia, said that he would like to help Woods finish strong. "My personal ambitions center around helping Woods however I can. He's riding super well, and I would love to help him get a result. If the team gives me the opportunity to get into a break or two, I would love to win a stage."

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