Michael Woods wins 2022 Route d'Occitanie

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Bonifazio grabs win in bunch sprint on final stage

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AUTERIVE FRANCE JUNE 19 Michael Woods of Canada and Team Israel Premier Tech Red Leader Jersey competes during the 46th La Route dOccitanie La Depeche du Midi 2022 Stage 4 a 1883km stage from Les Angles to Auterive RDO2022 on June 19 2022 in Auterive France Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
Michael Woods of Israel-Premier Tech finished in front group to win the overall title and the Red Leader's Jersey(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Niccolo Bonifazio (TotalEnergies) catapulted along the left side barriers in a small opening next to Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) and won the fourth and final stage of La Route d’Occitanie on Sunday. 

"This is the first stage race I have won in my career. I’m really happy with the result and really pleased with the teamwork," Woods said.

From the small bunch that survived cross-winds throughout stage 4, Max Kanter (Movistar) took second and Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo) was third, just edging Viviani.

Two of the three categorised climbs came early in the 188.3km final stage, with the final half rolling to the finish circuit in Auterive, the cross-wind playing a role to disrupt proceedings. The peloton split into several groups with 70 km to go, Woods was part of a select group of about 27 riders that survived at the front.

"I always felt protected. We had Cole [Kessler] riding at the front at the start of the race and then Guy [Sagiv] and Taj [Jones] did an amazing job putting me in position in the crosswind. Carl [Fredrik Hagen] did great to be in that small group at the end and just help me and be with me for the rest of the race," Woods recounted about the windy day. "I’m really happy and I’m really excited for the Tour de France now.”

Jackie Tyson
Jackie Tyson
North American Editor

Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. On the bike, she has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast), and spends time on gravel around horse farms in north Georgia.

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