Rally Cycling dominates in Jasper with a one-two finish on Stage 1 of the Tour of Alberta

The 2017 Tour of Alberta kicked off on Friday, Sept. 1, with a 162-kilometer opening stage from downtown Jasper, Alta. to nearby Marmot Basin, marking the Tour’s return to the area—and the Marmot Basin summit finish—after two years. For Rally Racing’s Evan Huffman, the stage’s finish marked a return to the top of the podium, after finishing third at the 2016 event.

Taking Stage 1 of the Tour of Alberta also marked Huffman’s sixth win of the 2017 season which has included overall triumph at the Tour of the Gila and two stages of the Tour of California.

With the summit approaching, and only eight kilometers left in the stage, Huffman surged out of a lead pack of about 20 riders, eventually taking 15-seconds on squadmate Sepp Kuss, also from the United States. Swinging to the right out of the days breakaway of 14 riders, Huffman poured it on during the final 11-kilometre ascent to the summit finish, powering ahead and leaving the peloton frantically chasing behind. Under hazy early September skies, the air thick with smoke from the wildfires of British Columbia, Huffman and Kuss banged out a one-two finish for Rally, well ahead of Tom Jelte-Slagter of the Netherlands, riding for Cannondale-Drapac who surged out of the peloton to sweep up the remainder of the breakaway to finish thrid a distant 27 seconds behind the two Rally riders.

Looking back at the final stretch, Huffman remarked that taking the win wasn’t without a measure of pain. “I felt like I was cracking about one kilometer from the finish,” Huffman said. “I kept looking back, but I didn’t see anyone so I just hung on.”

Noting the power he put down for the finishing climb to the Marmot Basin summit, Huffman admitted that he didn’t plan to surge so hard from the base of the hill, though. “It was an in the moment decision,” he said. “I was feeling pretty good, and I knew that Sepp was one of the strongest climbers in the group if I got caught. Everyone sat up for a moment, and I took advantage of it, got a gap and time trialed to the finish. I was at the limit the last few kilometers and I am happy I was able to hold it together.”

And with that one-two for Rally, Huffman is optimistic about his squad’s fortune for the remaining Tour. “We are in a good position for the rest of the race,” Huffman said. “The other teams are going to attack nonstop over the next three days, but we are first and second overall with a strong team capable of controlling the race.”

Representing Canada in the top 10 were Jack Burke of Aevolo, finishing 0:32 behind Huffman’s time of 3:48:46, Robert Britton of Rally at 0:42, and James Piccoli of Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling at 0:47. Rally’s Matteo Dal-Cin just missed the top 10 back 0:50 on his teammate.

The Tour of Alberta continues on Saturday, with a 139-kilometre stage through Spruce Grove, Alta.

TOUR OF ALBERTA – STAGE ONE
Jasper to Marmot Basin (162 km)

1 Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling) 3:48:46
2 Sepp Kuss (Rally Cycling) at 0:15
3 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team) 0:28
4 Christopher Jones (UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team) 0:30
5 Jack Burke (Aevolo) 0:32
6 Alex Howes (Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team) 0:38
7 Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling) 0:41
8 Robert Britton (Rally Cycling) 0:42
9 Taylor Shelden (Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) 0:44
10 James Piccoli (Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling) 0:47