Tour of Alberta: sprints and festivals

Times Reporter 

 

The Tour of Alberta coming through our province in September has announced new sprint sections within the legs, to bring the small communities into spotlight, rather than simply having the riders go through. 

These areas include kilometer 27 in Fort Saskatchewan and Ardrossan on September 4, kilometer 57.3 in Wetaskiwin and kilometer 94.6 in Ponoka on September 5, and kilometer 93.4 in Drumheller on September 6. On September 7, there will be no sprint due to the terrain in the mountains for that day, however the last sprint will be on September 8 in Calgary at kilometer 117.9.

Within the race there are now four competitions: the general classification (the yellow jersey in the Tour de France), the mountain classification (typically the polka dot jersey in France), the best U23 Canadian, and the sprint classification (the green jersey in the Tour).

“It really creates a race within the race,” said Chairman of the Board, Brian Jolly. “Each team will have a dedicated one or two sprinters, all these teams will protect that sprinter, so that he doesn’t get tired and he’s in good shape for the sprint.”

Jolly says the last kilometer will have the riders doing 50 km/h or more.

“He’ll be taking shelter (from wind) before the last 200-300 meters, when he’ll burst out like a rocket and try to win,” said Jolly. “You’ll have four or five teams trying to do the same thing, so it’ll get really, really interesting. There’s money at stake, and there’s the overall green jersey at stake, which is very prestigious.”

The general classification winner for the Tour of Alberta proves he can time trial, sprint, and climb. The province will be the title partner for the Leader’s jersey.

Stage 4 of the Tour of Alberta has been rerouted due the floods in Canmore and the damage along Highway 40. Instead, it will begin and end in Black Diamond. Racers will complete two rounds each of a 60 km circuit through the foothills, and then a 40 km circuit through tough terrain.

Ten of the 11 stages the Tour of Alberta had planned were affected by June’s floods.

“Everyone’s been able to come through with the goods, with a lot of help from different areas and communities. This event will help them because what the event is about is selling Alberta to the world – particularly the small communities, which normally don’t get the exposure,” said Jolly.

Also, at each start and finish, there will be festivals of culture, cuisine, travel experiences, and performing artists from the province; this will be put on by Alberta Culture and Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation, both of which have invested $250,000 each for the start and finish events.

“The festivals for the Tour of Alberta promise to be bigger and better than anything the cycling world has seen before, thanks to the support from the province, and in general the enthusiasm of everyone involved,” said Brian Jolly. “With daily themes ranging from the Wild West in Edmonton to Global Fare in Calgary, race spectators and up to 35 million television viewers in Canada and 100 million households around the world will be treated to all the best Alberta has to offer.”

The Tour of Alberta is partnering with Travel Alberta and Destination Marketing Organizations to have the tour broadcast throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. 

Final rosters for each team will be announced this month.