Floods threaten Tour of Alberta stage route
Highway 22 closed, roads washed out, bridges damaged
A stage of the inaugural Tour of Alberta might face changes due to floods damaging the roads near Black Diamond in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Highway 22, on which the 200 kilometre fourth stage from Black Diamond to Canmore is scheduled to be run, is currently closed. Bridge and road damage along with swollen creeks and rivers in the region have forced touring cyclists to make long detours.
The town of Black Diamond has seen its water treatment plant damaged by localized flooding and is receiving its drinking water via a temporary line from Turner Valley.
Only the latter, southwestern part of the UCI 2.1-rated race is under threat, as the roads of the northeastern legs are unaffected by the flooding of the Sheep, Bow and other rivers and their tributaries.
The Tour of Alberta is scheduled from September 3 to 8 and kicks off in Edmonton with a prologue time trial of 7.3 kilometres.
