Garmin-Sharp confirmed to appear at the Tour of Alberta
Hesjedal intends to race in Canadian six-day stage race
One day before Ryder Hesjedal begins his defence of the maglia rosa in Italy, the Tour of Alberta announced that the Victoria native intends to ride a stage race in his home country. On Friday, the Tour of Alberta said that the first professional team to confirm its attendance in the UCI 2.1, six-day event is Garmin-Sharp. While the Alberta race is four months away (Sept. 3 to 8 ) and final rosters won’t be confirmed until August, Hejedal is planning to ride in Edmonton, the Rockies, Calgary and other locations comprising the race. Since the Tour of Alberta has a ranking of 2.1, only half of the teams participating can be WorldTour level. The rest of the teams must be at the level of UCI professional continental or continental. A national team can also participate.
A continental team from the U.S. is actually making it possible for one Albertan to participate in the race. At the moment, there are no Alberta riders who qualify for the race. To address this issue,  the race organizers, the Alberta Peloton Association and Banff Lake Louise Tourism developed the Making the Tour program. The highest placed under-23, Cat. 1/2 Alberta rider in the Banff Bike Fest Stage Race (June 13 to 16) will have the opportunity to ride on team SmartStop presented by Mountain Khakis in the Tour of Alberta. The North Carolina–based team is owned by a Canadian, Jamie Bennett. His mother was born in Donalda, Alta. The gesture to include an Albertan on his team not only helps out Canadian cycling, but is a tribute to his Alberta roots.
Finally, on Friday, race organizers revealed more of the route.
The prologue of the Tour centres on the city of Edmonton. It features a 7.3-km time trial. Grierson Hill will allow them to pick up some speed but climbing out of the North Saskatchewan River Valley will surely sap legs.
The 158-km Stage 1 ends in Camrose, Alta. Riders will have a tight and twisty three-lap circuit to contend with in the town. To make things even more challenging, the finish is on an uphill drag.
Near the end of Stage 2 and its 175 km, riders will face some ups and downs. Another three-lap circuit finish will keep cyclists moving through Red Deer, Alta. On each lap, they’ll go up 30 m only to come screaming down a downhill stretch, which is how the stage will end.
The hills around Drumheller, Alta., will feature in the race’s 169-km third stage. Race technical director Jeff Corbett has said that river bluffs in the area will make for Classics-style parcours. The race will conclude right under the world’s largest dinosaur.
Stage 4 is the 200-km mountain stage. The route goes up Highwood Pass to Canmore, Alta. Cyclists suffering in the iconic Rockies will no doubt be something to catch.
The Tour of Alberta concludes in Calgary. After 132 km of racing, the riders will come into the city. The sprinters will be chasing victory in the downtown core.
