Tour of Alberta: initial list of teams announced
Hesjedal's Garmin-Sharp among the five ProTour squads invited
Organizers of the Tour of Alberta announced the first nine of fifteen teams slated to race the inaugural event from September 3 to 8. Five ProTour teams have been selected, including Ryder Hesjedal’s Garmin-Sharp, along with four Pro Continental squads.
American-based Garmin-Sharp is joined by another team from the USA, BMC, Italy’s Cannondale, and two squads from The Netherlands: Blanco Pro Cycling (soon to be Belkin) and Argos-Shimano. These five ProTour squads will be competing simultaneously at the Vuelta a España.
Canada’s Equipe Garneau-Quebecor, Champion Systems from China and two American teams, Team Smartstop presented by Mountain Khakis and Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies, have also been invited to the first Tour of Alberta.
Organizers will announce the final six selections for the UCI 2.1-rated race in late June and the team start lists will be finalized in August. Three more ProTour teams are expected to get invitations.
