2016 Tour of Alberta preview

Thursday sees the start of the fourth Tour of Alberta, rated 2.1 by the UCI as part of its America Tour. This season the ToA goes back to five stages, after six in 2015, and has only two WorldTour squads instead of five over the last two editions. This bodes well for Pro Continental and Continental teams, as only one non-WorldTour rider has ever stood on the final podium.

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The weather is often a factor in the Tour of Alberta; two years ago there was the forecast of snow in Edmonton, and last season King of the Mountains winner Ben Perry (Silber) seemed to clad in a neck-warmer pulled up over his chin half the time.

Thursday the race kicks off in Lethbridge, site of 2014’s second stage, where riders will fight it out over nine laps of 11.7-kms, each with a steep climb out of the Old Man River valley. Friday begins in Kananaskis Country before rolling 182-km to Olds. The biggest climb of the race in midway through the stage and the terrain in general is jagged.

More hills await on Stage 3, but this day is marked by gravel sections on the way from Rocky Mountain House to Drayton Valley.

The Tour of Alberta will spend its last two days in Edmonton, beginning with a short time trial on Stage 4. Set in Hawrelak Park, this crucial stage has a sharp climb in its latter half. Monday is the finale of the ToA, the now traditional street course in Edmonton. Always a big determiner, the course consists of 11 laps of 11.9-kms, each featuring the short steep Bellamy Hill.

It’s hard to say who the parcours favours this season, but the riders on the start line in Lethbridge are an interesting mix.

Of course, this is Ryder Hesjedal’s final season before retirement, and his presence will be special for the fourth edition. Hesjedal’s Trek-Segafredo teammate Bauke Mollema (The Netherlands) in the reigning champ and followed up a great Tour de France, somewhat spoiled by a crash on the third to last day that bumped him from second to 11th, with a win at the Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian. Their teammate Frank Schleck (Luxembourg) is also in his farewell season.

Updated lineup for @TourOfAlberta. @stijndevolder79, who was sick, is added back (not in photo: @pietallegaert). pic.twitter.com/c8EPXS8PND

— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) August 28, 2016

There are plenty of Canadians racing, including the entire Silber team, who have had a hot hand this season. Perry will be out on the hunt again. Kris Dahl surprised many with the opening win at the Tour of Utah. Matteo Dal-Cin would like to add another 2016 honour to his Redlands Classics triumph. Can national time trial champion Ryan Roth prevail in Edmonton?

Over at Rally, Pierrick Naud and Rob Britton fly the maple leaf flag, while Jordan Cheyne is Canada’s representative on Jelly Belly.

Like Rally and Jelly Belly, H&R Block is a Continental team, one almost entirely Canadian, except for Jure Rupnik, the Slovenian. Peter Disera, better known for his mountain biking, is a notable H&R Block rider.

Tony the Tiger AKA Antoine Duchesne, will be leading the way for Team Canada. The development squad gives top-race exposure to a mix of riders from Team RaceClean and Garneau-Quebecor.

Last, but certainly not least, comes WorldTour outfit Cannondale-Drapac and Michael “Rusty” Woods. The Canadian got off to a fabulous start to 2016 at the Tour Down Under with 5th place. However, injuries suffered in a crash at Liège-Bastogne-Liège almost scuppered his season. Recently, Woods was the only Canadian to finish the Olympic Games road race.

Cannondale-Drapac also sends Americans Alex Howes and Phillip Gaimon, along with Latvian Toms Skujiņš, stage winner at this year’s Tour of California.