June 04, 2013 (Edmonton, AB) – Fifteen experienced and enthusiastic cyclists will have the opportunity to ride the 2013 Tour of Alberta route this September in a unique VIP experience with one of Canada’s cycling heroes.

The Tour of Alberta VIP Pro Cycling Experience Hosted by Alex Stieda, is open to 15 men or women who are experienced road cyclists who are comfortable drafting and riding in a group situation.

The ride – which will follow the five main stages of the route each race day hours in advance of the professionals — will be lead each day by Stieda, a former Canadian cycling pro and yellow jersey winner in the Tour de France, who now calls Edmonton home. Like the professional athletes competing in the 2013 Tour of Alberta, the 15 riders will be fully supported each of the five days with meals, ride nutrition, mechanical support, and massage therapists at the end of each ride. Participants will stay at the same hotels as the professionals, and have VIP access and experiences at each Finish festival, and tickets to the VIP opening and closing galas.

Stieda, one of the original founding members of the APA, now retired from the organization, was instrumental in helping establish the Tour of Alberta as the first major stage professional race to be held in Canada.

“If you have a beautiful road bike, have shaved legs that have endured some long, hard rides, and you know what the terms drafting, echelon and prologue mean, this is your kind of ride,” said Stieda. “Not for the weak of heart, this is a bucket-list experience for anyone who wants to know what it’s like to be a pro cyclist in a major stage race.”

“We are excited to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only ride the route of the first ever Tour of Alberta on the same day, but to also share the experience, of the professional cyclists,” said Duane Vienneau, Executive Director of the Alberta Peloton Association (APA), the organization behind the Tour. “Thanks to Alex Stieda’s commitment to the sport of cycling, the lucky few who will be a part of this event will not only have a first class experience, but will also get some world-class coaching and training along the way.”

Cyclists are responsible for their own personal gear and equipment, but the all-inclusive cost of participating in the Tour of Alberta VIP Pro Cycling Experience is $9,500 per person, with a 50 per cent deposit due by the application deadline of June 30.

To apply, or for more information, please contact Alex Stieda at (780) 974-7873 or via e-mail at alex@stiedacycling.com

More information on the Tour of Alberta can be found here. Follow the Tour of Alberta on Twitter or on Facebook.

About the Tour of Alberta The Tour of Alberta: Canada’s Pro-Cycling Festival is a six-day stage race scheduled to be held September 3 to 8, 2013. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s governing body, awarded the inaugural Tour of Alberta with a 2.1 sanctioning in September 2012, making it the highest level pro cycling stage race in Canada, and one of the highest level events in North America. An annual event beginning in 2013, the Tour of Alberta will feature up to 15 professional, international cycling teams, comprised of eight riders per team. The events will be broadcast live daily in Canada on Sportsnet, and broadcast internationally on various networks, as it is expected that the event will host riders from over 20 countries around the world.