A gutsy series of late attacks by Cannondale-Drapac in Liège-Bastogne-Liège saw the team finally defeated in the last kilometre, but the American squad could leave the Classics season with their collective heads held high.
Few teams were able to break free of what proved to be a ferociously highly pace in the second half of the 258-kilometre Classic. But Cannondale-Drapac - who took a memorable Classics win here with Dan Martin back in 2013 - began firing riders up the road on the Cote de Saint Nicolas.
Davide Villella roared up the climb, passing earlier attacker Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal), and then Davide Formolo unleashed a stunning final move that took the young pro - appropriately enough - through Liège's 'little Italy' corner and onto the final ascent of Ans.
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It was only when Dan Martin (Quick Step Floors) stormed out of the pack that Formolo cracked and was sucked back into the main peloton. In a sign of their collective strength, Woods finally brought home a ninth place, Rigoberto Uran claimed 21st, Formolo 23rd and Villella 39th.
"Michael [Woods] and Villella both went on the [second last classified climb of the] Roche aux Faucons," commented Cannondale- Drapac sports director Tom Southam to Cyclingnews, "but that was a starting point, our plan was always to go all the way through to the final."
"Then Villella went again on the Saint-Nicolas and Formolo went over the top with a really nice attack."
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