2013 Tour of Alberta: Prologue preview

At a little less than 8 km, this circuit is close to the maximum distance the UCI allows for a prologue. The time trial run through Edmonton will test the legs of the riders and may have a significant effect on the strategies the teams will use in the following stages. The race of truth starts at Sir Winston Churchill Square and heads over to Grierson Hill. After riders get to scream down the hill to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, they’ll need to lay down some wattage to move up the incline around the Alberta legislature. It averages about 4 per cent in grade, but has parts as high as 10 per cent. Then there’s 2 km more to the finish back at Sir Winston Churchill Square. It will take a pro about 10 minutes to complete.

“For sure, the legislature climb will be a revealing spot,” says Jeff Corbett, the race technical director. “It’s not necessarily who’s going to get up that hill the fastest, but who’s going to get up that hill fast and then still have the gas left to make a charge to the line. I’m really looking for the sprinters to make a big effort. If they can stay close, then, with time bonuses over next couple of days, they might be able to take the overall jersey.”

Alex Stieda, Tour of Alberta board member, sees this stage favouring a slightly different rider than a pure sprinter. “It’s a Peter Sagan or a Philippe Gilbert type of stage,” he says. “It has a short punchy climb. It’s not super technical. The steep part of the hill is maybe 200 m and then there are some uphill false flats. After that you still have to grind. It will be that guy who has that explosive punching power who will do well.”