September 07, 2014 (Edmonton, AB) – South Africa’s Daryl Impey of Orica-GreenEDGE outsprinted top Canadian Ryan Anderson to take a 10-second time bonus that catapulted him past five-day race leader Tom Dumoulin of The Netherlands and Team Giant-Shimano to win the Tour of Alberta, presented by ATB Financial, by a mere one-second after 738 kilometres of racing.

Impey, who was a last-minute substitution on his team for the race and coming off a two month ban that was lifted, entered Sunday’s final stage in Edmonton’s Centre City nine seconds behind Dumoulin, who had led the race since the Prologue in Calgary this past Tuesday. There were time bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds, respectively, for the top three places on the final stage. By winning, Impey gained 10 seconds while Dumoulin failed to place in the top three, thus, giving the South African a win that wasn’t determined until the final metre of the race.  Anderson almost spoiled Impey’s victory by outsprinting him and eliminating him from the four crucial seconds he would need to overcome Dumoulin.

“After everything I’ve gone through, this victory is very rewarding,” said Impey, who had a suspect doping charge dropped only four days before arriving in Alberta last week. “My team did an incredible job getting me the best position to sprint for the win.”

For the 23-year-old Dumoulin, it was the third race this year that he lost on the final day.

“I knew I couldn’t sprint with him (Impey) and had to rely on someone defeating him today,” he said. “When I saw his hand lifted in victory, I couldn’t believe it.”

Dumoulin most recently had been winning the Tour of Belgium and Eneco Tour before being overcome on final day of the race.

Anderson was in the same boat as Dumoulin, motivated to win the stage in his hometown of Edmonton while also using the time bonus to move into second place overall.  Instead, Impey made a bold move to pass Anderson in the final 50 metres and Anderson was forced to ease his sprint near the line to avoid a crash.

“It seemed like he (Impey) took a hard line and I was pinched to his right against the barrier,” Anderson said. “He obviously had more to gain than I did. It would have been good to get the stage win and I think it might have put me on the podium.”

Anderson took the red jersey as the top Canadian on the first stage in Lethbridge, thanks to a third place in the sprint, and kept the jersey throughout the rest of the race. With two stage podiums, Anderson finished in fifth place of the overall standing, 11 seconds behind the winning time of Daryl Impey.

Sunday’s final stage was contested in cold and rainy conditions through Edmonton’s Centre City. The 124.1-kilometre par course included 11 circuits of 11.3 kilometres in length. The circuit featured a steep climb up Bellamy Hill and a longer, more gradual climb up Victoria Park Rd. The Netherland’s Steven Kruijwick of Belkin-Pro Cycling went clear mid-way through the race and at one point had more than 1 minute, 30-second lead and was the virtual leader on the road. He was reeled in by a group of more than 30 riders, led by Garmin-Sharp, who won the team competition.

The final podium included Impey, Dumoulin at one second behind, and 21-year-old German Ruben Zepuntke of the Bissell Development Team. He said the podium was the biggest result of his career and “a big achievement against World Tour” riders.

The race was the fastest of any major North American race this year, as the peloton averaged 45.6 kilometres per hour (28.77 mph).

“A lot of teams came motivated to win,” said Ramunas Navardauskas. “It was a fast race despite the winds and rain.”

“This was a very good race,” said Impey. “It has become important for us. It’s organized well and well attended by the fans. We look forward to coming back.”

The Subway® Sprint Points jersey winner was Lithuania’s Navardauskas of Garmin-Sharp. The Go Auto King of the Mountain was Great Britain’s Simon Yates of Orica-GreenEDGE. The ATB Financial Best Young Rider was Tom Dumoulin of Team Giant-Shimano. The Pomeroy Hotel & Suites Best Canadian winner was Ryan Anderson of Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies.

Among the Canadian National Team, Hugo Houle was the top rider, finishing the race in 22nd place of the general classification. Houle finished 14th on Saturday and 17th on the last stage.

Team director Gord Fraser is happy with the outcome for the Cycling Canada Tour of Alberta project. “For the Canadian Team, it was a great week for the development of our young riders. Hugo Houle got some much-needed race time to prepare for the finish of the season. Garrett McCloed continues to improve and has narrowed the gap to being a top professional.

Ben Perry got a taste of elite level racing, and our U23 National Champ held himself well in the company.  Jean-Sebastien Perron continues to battle and provide good help to his teammates.  He has piloted some Para tandems this year and hopefully he continues to help Canada gain medals in this important discipline. Stuart Wight is a savvy rider and is also progressing at a nice rate.  For Adam, Jordan and Cody, they will take home with them great lessons and hopefully apply them to their training and racing going forward in the future.”

“We’d sincerely like to thank race organizers Medalist Sports, the Province of Alberta and ATB Financial for supporting the event as well as the staff and volunteers who made it a safe race for all.  Thanks also to Global Relay for supporting our National Team.  Hopefully, we’ll be back again next year to help our athletes achieve their goals,” added Gord Fraser.

Following the race, Tour of Alberta Executive Director Duane Vienneau announced that the 2015 Tour of Alberta will start in Grande Prairie with the Prologue and Stage 1. The 2015 race will feature six days of racing, including a prologue. Dates have yet to be announced, but will be around the same time timeframe.

The Tour of Alberta, presented by ATB Financial is Canada’s biggest professional cycling stage race and ranked as one of the highest outside of Europe. It is sanctioned by the Union Cyclist Internationale, international governing body for the sport and the Canadian Cycling Association, the national governing body for the sport in Canada.

Jerseys

– Province of Alberta Leader’s Jersey – Darryl Impey (RSA), Orica-GreenEDGE
– SUBWAY® Sprint Points Jersey – Ramunas Navadauskas (LTU), Garmin-Sharp
– Go Auto King of the Mountain Jersey – Simon Yates (GBR), Orica-GreenEDGE
– ATB Financial Best Young Rider Jersey – Tom Dumoulin (NED), Team Giant-Shimano
– Pomeroy Inn & Suites Best Canadian Jersey – Ryan Anderson (CAN), Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
– Simson Maxwell Power Jersey – Steven Kruijwick (NED) Belkin-Pro Cycling

Results

1. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica Greenedge 2:46:22
2. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
3. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin Sharp
4. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
5. Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
6. Nicky Van Der Lijke (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
7. Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
8. Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
9. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
10. Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica Greenedge
11. Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Bissell Development Team
12. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale
13. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica Greenedge
14. Benjamin King (USA) Garmin Sharp
15. Adam Matthew Farabaugh (USA) Garneau – Québecor
16. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
17. Hugo Houle (Can) Canadian National Team
18. Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-Shimano
19. Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop
20. Daan Olivier (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
21. Robert Förster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
22. Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
23. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop
24. Garrett McCleod (Can) Canadian National Team
25. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
26. Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
27. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
28. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin Sharp
29. Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team 00:07
30. James Oram (Nzl) Bissell Development Team
31. Daniel Eaton (USA) Bissell Development Team
32. Michael Woods (Can) 5-Hour Energy
33. Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale 00:09
34. Simon Yates (Gbr) Orica Greenedge 00:11
35. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 00:24
36. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica Greenedge 00:33
37. Pierrick Naud (Can) Garneau – Québecor 00:35
38. Edward King (USA) Cannondale 00:39
39. Theo Bos (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
40. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team 02:43
41. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
42. Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin Sharp
43. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
44. Thomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
45. Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica Greenedge
46. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
47. Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Team Giant-Shimano
48. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 02:52
49. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Garmin Sharp 05:56
50. Gavin Mannion (USA) Garmin Sharp
51. Tanner Putt (USA) Bissell Development Team
52. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale
53. Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Garmin Sharp
54. Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
55. Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale
56. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale
57. Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop
58. Chad Beyer (USA) 5-Hour Energy
59. Sam Basseitti (USA) 5-Hour Energy
60. Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
61. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
62. Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
63. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
64. Shane Kline (USA) Team SmartStop
65. Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
66. Zachary Bell (Can) Team SmartStop
67. Alexander Candelario (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
68. Travis Livermon (USA) Team SmartStop
69. Taylor Sheldon (USA) 5-Hour Energy
70. Benjamin Perry (Can) Canadian National Team
71. Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin Sharp
72. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-Shimano
73. David Tanner (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
74. Christian Meier (Can) Orica Greenedge 11:01
75. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano
DNF Steven Lammertink (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
DNF Matthew Goss (Aus) Orica Greenedge
DNF Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
DNF Marc Demaar (Ned) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
DNF Davide Frattini (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
DNF Brad Huff (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNF Will Routley (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNF Eric Young (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNF Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNF Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
DNF Nic Hamlton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
DNF Sean Mazich (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
DNF Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
DNF Fred Rodriguez (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
DNF Bruno Langlois (Can) 5-Hour Energy
DNF James Stemper (USA) 5-Hour Energy
DNF Robert Sweeting (USA) 5-Hour Energy
DNF David Williams (USA) 5-Hour Energy
DNF Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Silber Pro Cycling
DNF Matteo Dal-Cin (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
DNF Nigel Ellsay (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
DNF Joseph Lewis (Aus) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
DNF Joseph Schmalz (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
DNF Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop
DNF Kristofer Dahl (Can) Team SmartStop
DNF Nicolai Brochner (Den) Bissell Development Team
DNF Gregory Daniel (USA) Bissell Development Team
DNF Logan Owen (USA) Bissell Development Team
DNF Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) Bissell Development Team
DNF Jordan Cheyne (Can) Canadian National Team
DNF Jean-Sebastian Perron (Can) Canadian National Team
DNF Stuart Wight (Can) Canadian National Team
DNF Jacob Kauffmann (Aus) Garneau – Québecor
DNF Benjamin Chaddock (Can) Garneau – Québecor
DNF Janvier Hadi (Rwa) Garneau – Québecor
DNF Simon-Pierre Gauthier (Can) Garneau – Québecor

Final GC
1. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica Greenedge 16:07:56
2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano 00:01
3. Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Bissell Development Team 00:09
4. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin Sharp 00:10
5. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 00:11
6. Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 00:15
7. Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica Greenedge 00:16
8. Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 00:19
9. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 00:31
10. James Oram (Nzl) Bissell Development Team
11. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 00:36
12. Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 00:40
13. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin Sharp 00:45
14. Daniel Eaton (USA) Bissell Development Team 00:47
15. Nicky Van Der Lijke (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 00:49
16. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
17. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale 00:53
18. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica Greenedge 01:00
19. Simon Yates (Gbr) Orica Greenedge
20. Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team 01:06
21. Adam Matthew Farabaugh (USA) Garneau – Québecor 01:35
22. Hugo Houle (Can) Canadian National Team 01:37
23. Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team 01:40
24. Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale 01:45
25. Michael Woods (Can) 5-Hour Energy 01:53
26. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop 02:04
27. Garrett McCleod (Can) Canadian National Team 02:44
28. Theo Bos (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 02:46
29. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 03:28
30. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team 03:34
31. Pierrick Naud (Can) Garneau – Québecor 03:41
32. Edward King (USA) Cannondale 03:59
33. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica Greenedge 04:31
34. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team 04:46
35. Robert Förster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 05:22
36. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 06:31
37. Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Team 06:49
38. Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-Shimano
39. Alexander Candelario (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 06:54
40. Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 07:01
41. Benjamin King (USA) Garmin Sharp 07:02
42. Tanner Putt (USA) Bissell Development Team 07:11
43. Zachary Bell (Can) Team SmartStop 07:16
44. Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Garmin Sharp 07:22
45. Chad Beyer (USA) 5-Hour Energy 07:30
46. Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Team Giant-Shimano
47. Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica Greenedge 07:45
48. Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop 08:22
49. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale 08:24
50. Daan Olivier (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano 09:08
51. Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin Sharp 09:37
52. Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 10:41
53. Sam Basseitti (USA) 5-Hour Energy 11:00
54. Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin Sharp 11:03
55. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 11:14
56. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 11:24
57. Christian Meier (Can) Orica Greenedge 11:38
58. Thomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 11:45
59. Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 12:44
60. Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop 12:58
61. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 13:15
62. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Garmin Sharp 13:33
63. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale 13:56
64. Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale 13:57
65. Benjamin Perry (Can) Canadian National Team 14:15
66. Shane Kline (USA) Team SmartStop 15:46
67. Gavin Mannion (USA) Garmin Sharp 17:23
68. Taylor Sheldon (USA) 5-Hour Energy 19:07
69. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 19:38
70. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 21:58
71. Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 23:56
72. Travis Livermon (USA) Team SmartStop 24:05
73. David Tanner (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 26:40
74. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 28:00
75. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-Shimano 43:18