Tour of Alberta announces 2017 teams
Four stage race start on Sept. 1 and features a stage in Jasper National Park
Only one WorldTour team will be contesting the 2017 Tour of Alberta which begins in Jasper on Sept. 1 and concludes in Edmonton on Sept. 4. Cannondale-Drapac headline the fifth edition of the UCI stage race.
Canadian UCI teams Silber Pro Cycling, H&R Block Pro Cycling Team and Garneau-Quebecor all will be on the start line of the race which begins with a mountainous stage in Jasper National Park.
The American UCI pro continental team of top-Canadian in 2016 Alex Cataford, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, will also take the start of the four stage race. Other teams expected to start are Amore & Vita – Selle SMP, Team Medellin-Inder, Team Jelly Belly presented by Maxxis, Rally Cycling, Aevolo Cycling Team, Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling and Holowesko-Citadel of defending-champion Robin Carpenter.
“Last year’s Tour of Alberta was a milestone in my career and I have fond memories up there,” said Carpenter of the prospect of returning to defend his title in 2017. “The people, the scenery are pretty magnificent, so, I’m looking to come back to Alberta and defend my title. It’s always a bit nerve-racking when you come back to defend a title. But, I’m going for the neon gold.”
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
The field of 96 will include many of North America’s top riders. Past stage winners in Alberta include Michael Matthews who won the green jersey at the Tour de France this year, Giro d’Italia champion Tom Dumoulin and two time world champion Peter Sagan. In 2015, 2017 Tour de France stage winner Bauke Mollema won the Tour of Alberta.
“With one of the top teams from this year’s Tour de France in Cannondale-Drapac, our defending champion returning, and Canada’s top teams, it is shaping up to be a great field,” said Tour of Alberta’s president Scott Fisher. “The ATB Tour of Alberta has always been a preview to rising stars of the sport.”
2017 Teams
Cannondale-Drapac
Silber Pro Cycling
H&R Block Pro Cycling Team
Garneau-Quebecor
Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest
United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team
Team Jelly Belly presented by Maxxis
Rally Cycling
Aevolo Cycling Team
Holowesko/Citadel Racing presented by Hincapie Sportswear
Team Medellin-Inder
Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling
