August 01, 2017 (Edmonton, AB) – Race organizers for the ATB Tour of Alberta announced courses for the four-day UCI 2.1 professional stage race beginning in Jasper National Park and concluding in downtown Edmonton. This will mark the 5th anniversary of the ATB Tour of Alberta.
After a mountain stage opening, Stage 2 will be an out-and-back road race on the flat, rural roads around Spruce Grove. The stage will end with three circuits in the City of Spruce Grove finishing on King Street outside Central Park.
Pomeroy Inn & Suites Stage 3 moves into Edmonton, a stage that will start and finish at Windsor Park at the University of Alberta. The circuit course, with 11 laps, features two climbs up and down the River Valley on the windy and challenging Groat Road.
EllisDon Stage 4 will challenge the field with the same iconic grand finale circuit that has become a signature course over the past three iterations of the ATB Tour of Alberta. The race starts and finishes in Churchill Square and the course highlights the scenic Edmonton River Valley and downtown district. This thrilling stage includes 11 laps and has been the site of some exciting finishes that determined the overall race winner.
“I’m super excited and a little bit nervous to come back to the Tour of Alberta as the defending champion,” said Robin Carpenter of Team Holowesko/Citadel Racing presented by Hincapie Sportswear. “The courses are always interesting and I think this year will be no different. I think the second stage will have to offer some chances for cross-winds to break up the race because we race in every single direction out in the prairie. I think the first stage will be the biggest practical test with a sprint at the top of relatively shallow mountain grade. The stage I am most interested in is the new Edmonton circuit race. I think the hilltop finish will be tough and the whole rest of the race will be super interesting, going back and forth across the river.”
Event President and CEO Scott Fisher said: “In our fifth year, we’ve put together a route that highlights many beautiful regions of the province and by combining start and finish locations and adding more circuits, we are able to offer spectators an amazing viewing experience. The race starts with a bang in Jasper and an epic mountain-top finish at Marmot. Spruce Grove then offers a scenic new route through the city and out to the beautiful countryside to the north. Finally, Edmonton as a five-year partner of the Tour, will host the final two stages in the heart of Edmonton and throughout the Edmonton River Valley, culminating in the exciting overall finish at Churchill Square.”
Along with the great cycling action, each of our host cities will feature a fan Festival with fun activities for families to enjoy.
For more details of the race and festival, please visit tourofalberta.ca.
COURSE OVERVIEWS
September 1: Delta Air Lines Stage 1
Jasper to Marmot Basin Ski Area, road race (Jasper National Park)
TOTAL KILOMETRES: 165
A remake of 2015 course won by The Netherland’s Tom Jelte-Slagter, the course starts at the Town of Jasper, routes into Jasper National Park, one of Canada’s most scenic areas. The race loops around three times before climbing up to Marmot Basin Ski Resort, elevation 1,980 meters.
September 2: Stage 2
Spruce Gove, road race
TOTAL KILOMETRES: 140
This course is an out-and-back from the city of Spruce Grove, west of Edmonton. Site of a finish in 2015, this flat stage which ventures north before returning could face cross winds that often splinter the pack of cyclists making for time breaks. With three circuits at the finish, expect a dramatic Stage 2 finale on King Street next to Central Park.
September 3: Pomeroy Inn & Suites Stage 3
Edmonton (University of Alberta), circuit race
TOTAL KILOMETRES: 116
A new course which starts and finishes at Windsor Park outside the University of Alberta, this circuit routes through Groat Road to 111 Avenue NW before turning back. Each circuit will feature two climbs which is certain to grind at the pack over eleven circuits.
September 4: EllisDon Stage 4
Edmonton (Churchill Square), road race
TOTAL KILOMETRES: 124
In what has become a tradition, the race finale will start and finish at Churchill Square in the heart of Downtown Edmonton. The 11-lap circuit features a climb up Bellamy Hill and River Valley Road past Victoria Golf Course, before turning back on Victoria Park Rd. and snaking through the City Centre to a Churchill Square finish. In three past iterations, the overall victory came down to the last lap of this challenging circuit.
2017 TEAMS
– Cannondale-Drapac (USA)
– Silber Pro Cycling (CAN)
– H&R Block Pro Cycling Team (CAN)
– Garneau-Quebecor (CAN)
– Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest (ALB)
– United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
– Team Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS (USA)
– Rally Cycling (USA)
– Aevolo Cycling Team (USA)
– Holowesko/Citadel Racing presented by Hincapie Sportswear (USA)
– Team Medellin-Inder (COL)
– Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling (USA)
ATB TOUR OF ALBERTA QUICK FACTS
Date: September 1 – 4, 2017
Stages:
September 1: Delta Air Lines Stage 1 / Jasper to Marmot Basin Ski Area (Jasper National Park), road race
September 2: Stage 2 / Spruce Grove, road race
September 3: Pomeroy Inn & Suites Stage 3 / Edmonton (University of Alberta), circuit race
September 4: EllisDon Stage 4 / Edmonton (Churchill Square), circuit race
Total Kilometres: 546
Total Number of Cyclists: 96 (all world class)
Event Organizers: Alberta Peloton Association
Website: tourofalberta.ca
About the ATB Tour of Alberta
The ATB Tour of Alberta is Canada’s first and highest ranked professional road cycling stage race. Held September 1 to 4, 2017, the ATB Tour of Alberta will see 96 of the world’s best cyclists race across Alberta throughout the four-day stage race. The course includes a diverse and beautiful landscape of nearly 546 kilometres of rural and urban roads across Alberta, including a mountain top finish. At each start and finish location, event goers will be able to enjoy a festival, free of charge and packed with live entertainment, interactive vendors, local food varieties and fun activities. The ATB Tour of Alberta is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale and Canadian Cycling Association, and has received a 2.1 ranking, the highest ever for a Canadian stage race.