Tour of Alberta: Canadian Pave and Mountains

Time to turn it on!

Six stage, third edition of the Tour of Alberta starts tomorrow in Grand Prairie with the 19 km TTT. As this Canadian 2.1 race takes shape the mountains will be finally featured and a satisfying challenge for the likes of Ryder Hesjedal. I'm especially looking forward to stage 3, 206.2 km Edson to Spruce Grove - including 56 km of Canadian pave or dirt roads.

Key mountain stages will be Friday and Saturday in Jasper National Park - first from Grande Cache to Miette Hot Springs, the second from Jasper to Marmot Basin ski area.

“I enjoy it any time the pavement disappears and it turns into a dirt road. I grew up on it, I ride gravel all the time. I did a three-hour ride (last Friday) on a gravel trail. If you’re a rider and you’ve only ever ridden on pavement and you’ve never ridden through gravel, then it gets a bit complicated on a road bike. For sure, this course is more suited to my strengths than (previous years) with some selected stages, obviously, in Jasper. But you know, you’ve got to get through the first day. The team time trial is complicated, for sure. Already, from the first day, there can be time differences.”

- Ryder Hesjedal

Sadly, I won't be able to make it back to my home province to see it but I'll be watching eagerly and cheering on Ryder and the rest of the Canadian riders!

2015 Tour of Alberta: 

Stage 1: Grande Prairie - 19.6km (Team Time Trial)
Stage 2: County of Grande Prairie - 171.6km
Stage 3: Grande Cache to Jasper National Park - 181.8km
Stage 4: Jasper to Marmot Basin - 162.1km
Stage 5: Edson to Spruce Grove - 206.2km
Stage 6: Edmonton circuit race- 124.1km

Team roster

Rest day in La Vuelta. Calm before the storm...

Team Lotto NL Jumbo

Stage 11...

No calm here.