Canadian climber extraordinaire Ryder Hesjedal to start at the 2015 Tour of Alberta

As announced late last week, Canadian cycling star Ryder Hesjedal, who rides for Team Cannondale-Garmin, is officially heading to the Tour of Alberta this September. With a course expected to present more of a challenge this year in the climbing department for competing athletes, the Victoria, B.C.-based powerhouse’s involvement, it seems, was almost a given.

Hesjedal himself is simply looking forward to a competition on Canadian soil. “As always,” he said, “I’m really looking forward to racing in Canada, and especially the Tour of Alberta. I have a lot of connections to Alberta through family and friends.”

It’s the first time Hesjedal has attended the Tour of Alberta since its inagural year in 2013, having been kept off the start list last year due to other commitments. With changes to the course in 2015 — two mountain stages, one from Grande Cache to Miette Hot Springs and another with a finish at Marmot Basin in Jasper, Alberta — this year’s race holds special appeal for the 34-year-old B.C. climber, who’s known throughout the cycling world for his tireless uphill drive.

“I can’t wait for this year’s exciting route with the mountain finishes in Jasper,” Hesjedal said, “which suit my strengths.”

Those strengths have been showcased repeatedly in past seasons, with a 5th overall finish at the Giro d’Italia this year, and a win in the same event in 2012, solidifying Hesjedal’s prestige as the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour. Before then, in 2010, Hesjedal had a 7th overall finish in the Tour de France, and has seen wins in other challenging, high-profile international Tours, too, like the Tour of Spain and Amgen Tour of California. With such wins behind him, Tour of Alberta brass consider his competing in the western Canadian event something of a hero’s homecoming.

“This is a great day for Canadian sport,” said Duane Vienneau, president and CEO of the Tour of Alberta. “Ryder is a national hero and it will be great to welcome him back to the race. This year’s course certainly favours him.”

In related news, officials from the Tour of Alberta will disclose further information about this year’s race on Tuesday, August 18, with details about preliminary team rosters, festival highlights, and other aspects of the event being disclosed.

The Tour of Alberta starts on September 2 and runs until September 7, 2015.