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Trouble is brewing in Montr\u00e9al just days before the UCI Road World Championships over a mural controversy involving two of Canada\u2019s biggest cycling stars.<\/p>\n
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A giant mural celebrating Hugo Houle and his historic Tour de France victory has been painted over and replaced by an image of former teammate Michael Woods.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s triggering questions across Canadian cycling just weeks before the city hosts the 2026 UCI road worlds.<\/p>\n
The original mural went up in 2025 to celebrate Houle\u2019s victory in stage 16 in the 2022 Tour, the first Quebecer and only one of three Canadians to win a stage in cycling\u2019s biggest race.<\/p>\n
Houle dedicated the victory to his younger brother, Pierrik, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2012.<\/p>\n
Now that image has disappeared from the wall.<\/p>\n
Woods, the Ottawa-born former Tour and Vuelta stage winner, has replaced him.<\/p>\n
The new image shows Woods celebrating his 2024 Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a stage victory in the Canadian champion\u2019s jersey.<\/p>\n
Mural is on a building owned by Sylvan Adams<\/h2>\n
At the center of the intrigue is Sylvan Adams, the Canadian-Israeli billionaire and longtime cycling benefactor who commissioned the original artwork of Houle on a building he owns, CBC<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n Adams did not immediately respond to questions in Canadian media about why Houle was replaced by Woods.<\/p>\n Canadian Cycling Magazine<\/em> reported that Woods knew about the plan months ago.<\/p>\n \u201c[It] was supposed to be a bit of a surprise but Sylvan [Adams] did tell me he was going to change the mural, and I\u2019m honored,\u201d Woods told the Canadian outlet.<\/p>\n Houle \u2014 who abandoned the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a on Sunday \u2014 was not aware that his image was going to be painted over.<\/p>\n \u201cI was not consulted about its removal and I have not had any contact with [Sylvan Adams] since last September,\u201d Houle told La Presse<\/em>.<\/p>\n That uncertainty has prompted some speculation about whether the mural changes are linked to the makeover of Israel-Premier Tech after the turbulent 2025 season.<\/p>\n Houle and Woods both raced for the Adams-backed team through 2025.<\/p>\n La Presse<\/em> reported that Houle was close to extending his contract with IPT before Quebec-based co-sponsor Premier Tech withdrew from the team following months of pro-Palestinian protests connected to the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n Premier Tech later joined Alpecin as a co-title sponsor, and Houle followed the Canadian company to Alpecin-Premier Tech for 2026.<\/p>\n The former Israel-Premier Tech operation stripped away its Israeli identity and relaunched as NSN Cycling this season. Derek Gee, another star Canadian rider, also broke from the team to join Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n Adams, an outspoken supporter of Israel, stepped back from daily operations of the team.<\/p>\n The subplot will follow both riders into the worlds.<\/p>\n Houle and Woods will race together in Canadian team colors for the elite men\u2019s road race September 27.<\/p>\n