Tour of Alberta cycling route announced

Aryssah Stankevitsch  

Times Reporter

 

 

The Tour of Alberta, a 900 km bicycle race throughout Alberta, announced the trails that 15 professional teams of eight riders will follow, with participants from over 20 nations around the world. It’s the first year of the tour, and the first race of its type to be held in Canada. 

Edmontonian Alex Stieda, the first North American to wear the yellow jersey in Tour de France, helped created the proposal for the race to the Rural Alberta Development Fund.

The riders will journey from the start in Edmonton on Sept. 3, through the prairies and steep Rocky Mountains, to finish in Calgary on Sept. 8.

The prologue of the event begins at Winston Churchill Square, where cyclists will battle for the Tour of Alberta’s leader jersey by running individual time trials of 7.3 km. Top speeds are expected to reach 80 km/hour. 

The real journey begins the next day, Sept. 4, as cyclists make their way from Strathcona County to Camrose – a distance of 158km. The following day takes the riders to Devon (or “Bike Town Alberta”).

On Sept. 6, the racers will leave Strathmore for Drumheller. They’ll hustle up the 817 Highway into the Canadian Badlands, after beginning their day on 2 Avenue, between 3 Street and Lakeside Boulevard. 

“It’ll bring a lot of attention to Strathmore and we have the opportunity to showcase who we are and what to offer here,” said Tracy Simpson, recreational events and communication coordinator for the Town. “It’ll bring the community together as well, with lots of volunteers need, over 200. Sports and recreation is a great way to unite your community. It’ll set us up for bigger and better things in the future.”

The longest distance the riders will have to face is on Sept. 7, as they pedal from Black Diamond to the Canmore Nordic Centre about 200 km away (with 50 km uphill). The ensuing day, the teams will finish in downtown Calgary at Centre Street and 4 Avenue, passing along Memorial Drive and the Bow River.

Giro D’Italia Champion Ryder Hesjedal is confirmed to be racing with his Garmin-Sharp team; they currently sit at fifth in the world. Hesjedal was the first Canadian to ever capture the Giro race last year. 

Modeled after professional races such as the Tour de France, the tour will be sanctioned under Union Cycliste Internationale rules. The route is designed to be safe for cyclists, spectators and motorists. 

The tour will be broadcast on Sportsnet in Canada, but will be followed internationally as well.