July 09, 2013 (Edmonton, Alberta) – Cyclists of all ages and abilities will have the chance to ride portions of the 2013 Tour of Alberta route with two special events that will help raise funds for two organizations supporting Albertans.

On Monday, September 2, families will be invited to ride a portion of the prologue route through downtown Edmonton to celebrate the Tour of Alberta and help raise funds for CASA, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health.

Beginning with a mass start at Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton at 11 a.m., this family-oriented ride is a great way for people of all fitness levels to have fun and share in the Tour of Alberta festivities. The cost to participate is $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 5 to 16, and children under age five ride for free.

“The inaugural Tour of Alberta will gather our communities together in a celebration of cycling across our great province. CASA is so pleased to partner with the Tour of Alberta in bringing awareness to the mental health challenges faced by thousands of Alberta’s children,” said Germaine Dechant, CEO of CASA and the CASA Foundation. “In solidarity with these children, Alberta cyclists will join CASA and take to the streets of Edmonton on their own bikes. Together we will demonstrate our commitment to ensuring healthy minds and bodies for Albertans.”

Cyclists with more experience are invited to ride in a second Tour of Alberta event planned to coincide with the final stage of the Tour of Alberta from Okotoks to Calgary on Sunday, September 8.

The Tour of Alberta Cycling Challenge, presented by TransRockies Events, is a mass participation cyclesportive ride from Okotoks. Highlighting the best parts of the Tour’s final stage, cyclists will ride the scenic rolling foothills southwest of Calgary and return to Okotoks in time to finish at the official Tour of Alberta Starting Line in advance of the professional riders who will head out on the road around 1 p.m. towards the overall race finish in Calgary.

Open to recreational and advanced riders, participants are encouraged to ride at a comfortable pace, choosing from two distances — a long loop of approximately 125 kilometres, and a medium loop of approximately 83 kilometres. Registration is $199 per cyclist, and the first 1,000 cyclists will receive a limited edition Tour of Alberta Cycling Challenge Louis Garneau jersey.

Participants will also have the opportunity to add an optional $50 to the registration fee to contribute directly to the Canadian Red Cross Flood Relief Fund.

“TransRockies Events is thrilled to be part of the Tour of Alberta by offering recreational cyclists a unique and active way to participate in this exciting event,” said TransRockies president Aaron McConnell.

The two cycling events are in addition to a Tour of Alberta VIP Pro Cycling Experience hosted by former professional cyclist Alex Stieda, announced in June, which offers cyclists the opportunity to ride the five stages each day in advance of the professional athletes competing in the Tour of Alberta.

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

Full details and registration information for the Tour of Alberta Family Ride Supporting CASA can be found at CASA and the Tour of Alberta Cycling Challenge Presented byTransRockies Events is available at TransRockies Race Series.