Para-cyclist overcomes injury to compete in World Cup

Canyon Lake’s Michael Davis is headed to his second World Cup. After placing fifth in last year’s World Cup in Quebec after a fall in the preliminaries, he is back on his bike and heading to Belgium and the 2023 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup. The race takes place May 4-7.

His crash last year took place during the Individual Time Trials event on Day 1. Michael dusted himself off, had his bike repaired and rode to a fifth place finish in the Individual Road Race – Tricycle 2 – Men Elite event.

Michael was in an accident again this year while competing in a criterium three weeks ago where he and his trike came away damaged. He was hesitant to go to Belgium for the race because of the injury, but Team USA already bought his ticket to Belgium and he will enter the race.

Canyon Lake para-cyclist Michael Davis trains in Canyon Lake prior to leaving for the 2023 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Belgium in May. Photo provided by Christian Nielsen

Michael is on the streets of Canyon Lake doing what he loves. He continues to pursue his dreams despite the adversity he has been faced with.

“My only limitation is my pain tolerance and I need to listen to my body,” Michael said. “I worked too hard after the accident, which put me in extreme pain.”

He said he finally listened to the doctors and his wife who encouraged him to let his body heal before resuming the hard training he felt he needed to do to prepare for the World Cup.

Michael is a wounded warrior and served in the United States Navy as part of a bomb squad. He was medically retired after being in a motor vehicle accident while on active duty where he suffered major injuries. He broke his neck in four places, broke every bone in his left arm and broke six inches of bone in his right leg.

Michael spent two years in rehabilitation, one year of which was during his stay in the hospital.