EF Pro Cycling climber Michael Woods' victory in the Tirreno-Adriatico stage 3 on Wednesday, as he prepares for the World Championships in Imola, Italy, later this month, and his long-term future in the Israeli Startup Nation in 2021 and beyond The Canadian athletes are on the upswing, and the results show that they are on the upswing.

Woods broke his femur on the last day of the Paris-Nice race in March, but took advantage of a mandatory race suspension due to a coronavirus outbreak to regain his fitness and returned to competition at Strade Bianche in early August.

Woods, who won the third stage of Tirreno in Saturnia, also took the leader's jersey and was five seconds ahead of Wednesday's breakaway leader Rafal Mica (Bora-Hansgrohe).

"This is a big step for my career. It's the first time I've won the leader's jersey in a World Tour race, so it's very special."

"Time trials are not my forte. I don't expect to win this race, but I'll see how long I can hang on to this jersey."

"I don't think I'm the favorite," Woods added. I think Jacob Fuglsang (Astana) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Glendiers) are stronger in the time trial."

Whatever happens, Woods will leave the relative comfort of EF Pro Cycling after five years with the U.S. WorldTour team at the end of this season to join Israel's Startup Nation.

"I loved racing with EF Pro Cycling. It wasn't an easy decision to change teams, but I'm good friends with Sylvan Adams, co-owner of the Israeli Startup Nation team, and my mentor and coach since I started riding, Paulo Saldaña, who is also the team's performance director. I have a great offer, a three-year contract, and it gives me a place to retire; it's where I want to end my career after a three-year contract."

Ahead of the World Championship road race on September 27, Woods feels he is ready for the new course, no matter how tough it is. Originally scheduled to be held in Aigle and Martigny, Switzerland, the race will now be held in Imola after the Swiss government imposed a ban on rallies last month due to coronavirus problems.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I think it will be a little easier than the course planned for Switzerland; two years ago in Innsbruck, Austria, I was third behind Alejandro Valverde of Spain and Romain Bardet of France.