September 03, 2013 (Edmonton, AB) – The 2013 Tour of Alberta has finally begun, after years of planning, with an opening 7.3km prologue through the streets of downtown Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta.
Canada opened up the stage race with Rob Britton posting the fastest time among the group representing the National Team, showing a 41s deficit on the fastest time set by Peter Sagan of Cannondale Pro Cycling.
“I rolled the dice. It was the first time racing for me on this bike, which I borrowed from Antoine Duchesne. I put my all, and got close to the Top Canadian,” said Rob Britton, still cooling down after his effort.
“It’s pretty amazing to race in front of so many fans. In some sections, I couldn’t carry myself breathing, with a ton of noise. It was incredible. I’d never thought I’d see the day where we could get so many people out cheering on a bike race in Canada. I think this is a reflection of the momentum that cycling has built over the last few years. It’s getting bigger and bigger each year. Hopefully this is not the end of the momentum and we can keep building from here.”
As for the next five days of racing, Britton thinks it won’t be as easy as it’s been reported: “Just wait and see. They are hard courses. People are saying that it would be easy because there are no climbs, but its not going make it easier, just different. It’s gonna be pretty hurting. I can almost guarantee you’ll see some carnage, some massive group splits on some of those days. Tough racing.”
Antoine Duchesne, two-time U23 Canadian Road Champion, finished with a time just one second slower than his teammate Britton.
“I didn’t do too many mistakes today. It’s a beautiful course, very fast. I was able to engage nicely into the turns, with lots of speed. The end of the course offered some interesting difficulties. I don’t think I could have done better today, so I am really satisfied with the result,” said Duchesne. “The climb was tough. It came after a long straight section of about four minutes of maximum efforts. It was tough to climb.”
“For a first day of competition, there was a really good vibe with a tons of supporters coming out for the race, all along the course. To be racing here in Canada, in front of Canadian in such an important race is difficult to explain. It makes me and my teammates really proud to wear the Maple Leaf and race for the National team.
“It’s a great honor to be among some of the best Canadians in the race. There are lots of big names in Canadian Cycling here with Zach Bell and Ryder Hesjedal notably. To wear the national team uniform and to be side to side with these guys is a tremendous honor.”
Some big cycling names are present for this first edition of the Tour of Alberta, including Tour de France winner Cadel Evans of BMC Racing, Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Sharp and #2-ranked rider Peter Sagan of Cannondale Pro Cycling. Reigning Canadian Road Champion, Zach Bell of Champion Pro System, is also among the peloton of 117 cyclists.
The Canadian broadcast partner for the Tour of Alberta, Sportsnet, will be airing the race live for two hours each day, along with daily one-hour highlights program to air in primetime each day of the race. Globally, the Tour of Alberta will be broadcast in 162 countries, reaching an estimated168 million viewers.
The Tour of Alberta continues Wednesday with the first mass-start road race, a 158.1km trek between Camrose and Strathcona County.
Results
1. Peter Sagan (Slo) Cannondale Pro Cycling 8:28
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Team Garmin-Sharp 0:13
3. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano 0:14
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:20
5. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:21
6. Chad Haga (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:23
7. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge 0:29
8. David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 0:30
9. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Sharp
11. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
12. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:31
13. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:32
14. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:33
15. David Millar (Gbr) Team Garmin-Sharp 0:34
16. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano 0:35
17. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
18. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:36
19. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:39
20. Cam Meyer (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
21. Shawn Milne (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
22. Charles Huff (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:40
23. Rob Britton (Can) Canadian National Team 0:41
24. Robert Sweeting (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 0:42
25. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
26. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Canadian National Team
27. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 0:43
28. Eric Marcotte (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
29. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Team Garmin-Sharp
30. Serghei Tvetcov (Mld) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
31. Jakub Novak (Cze) BMC Racing Team 0:44
32. Ryan Roth (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling
33. Adam Farabaugh (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
34. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:45
35. Travis McCabe (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
36. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:46
37. Zach Bell (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling 0:47
38. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
39. Benjamin Wolfe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:48
40. David Williams (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
41. Andres Diaz (Col) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 0:49
42. Kristofer Dahl (Can) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
43. Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling 0:50
44. Nic Hamlton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
45. Jeremy Vennell (Nzl) Bissell Pro Cycling
46. Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano 0:51
47. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling
48. Jason McCartney (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 0:52
49. Taylor Shelden (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
50. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:53
51. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing Team
52. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
53. Robert Forster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
54. Marc Goos (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
55. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:54
56. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
57. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
58. Alexander Cataford (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
59. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:55
60. Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
61. Bruno Langlois (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 0:56
62. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-Shimano
63. Brian Vandborg (Den) Cannondale Pro Cycling
64. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:57
65. Fabian Wegemann (Ger) Team Garmin-Sharp
66. Garrett McLeod (Can) Canadian National Team
67. Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge
68. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano 0:59
69. Emerson Oronte (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
70. Clay Murfet (Aus) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
71. Eric Young (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
72. Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling 1:00
73. Clinton Avery (Nzl) Champion System Pro Cycling
74. Shane Kline (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis 1:02
75. Sean Mazich (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 1:04
76. Moreno Hofland (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1:06
77. Nicholai Brochner (Den) Bissell Pro Cycling
78. Ken Hanson (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 1:09
79. Pierrick Naud (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 1:10
80. Ryan Aitcheson (Can) Canadian National Team 1:11
81. Davide Frattini (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
82. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Canadian National Team 1:12
83. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
84. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
85. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team
86. Flavio De Luna (Mex) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis 1:13
87. Michael Woods (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
88. Luke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 1:15
89. Bobby Lea (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
90. Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano 1:21
91. Stuart Wight (Can) Canadian National Team 1:22
92. Derrick St John (Can) Canadian National Team
93. Andrew Dahlheim (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
94. Chris Butler (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling
95. Aidis Kroupis (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge 1:25
96. William Clarke (Aus) Team Argos-Shimano 1:26
97. Fummi Beppu (Japan) Orica GreenEdge 1:27
98. Frank Pipp (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
99. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1:28
100. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
101. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Team Garmin-Sharp 1:31
102. Simon-Pierre Gauthier (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
103. Michael Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 1:33
104. Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling 1:34
105. Jean-Sebastien Perron (Can) Canadian National Team 1:37
106. Max Jenkins (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
107. Aldo Ilesic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 1:38
108. Jiyong Kang (Kor) Orica GreenEdge 1:44
109. Fu Shiu Cheung (HKg) Champion System Pro Cycling
110. Michael Chauner (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 1:49
111. Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Cannondale Pro Cycling
112. Benjamin Chaddock (Can) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis 1:51
113. Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1:59
114. Carter Jones (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 2:03
115. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 2:04
116. Geoffroy Dussault (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 2:15
117. James Stemper (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 2:21
GC after the Prologue
1. Peter Sagan (Slo) Cannondale Pro Cycling 8:28
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Team Garmin-Sharp 0:13
3. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano 0:14
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:20
5. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:21
6. Chad Haga (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:23
7. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge 0:29
8. David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 0:30
9. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Sharp
11. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
12. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:31
13. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:32
14. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:33
15. David Millar (Gbr) Team Garmin-Sharp 0:34
16. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano 0:35
17. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
18. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:36
19. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:39
20. Cam Meyer (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
21. Shawn Milne (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
22. Charles Huff (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:40
23. Rob Britton (Can) Canadian National Team 0:41
24. Robert Sweeting (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 0:42
25. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
26. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Canadian National Team
27. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 0:43
28. Eric Marcotte (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
29. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Team Garmin-Sharp
30. Serghei Tvetcov (Mld) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
31. Jakub Novak (Cze) BMC Racing Team 0:44
32. Ryan Roth (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling
33. Adam Farabaugh (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
34. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:45
35. Travis McCabe (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
36. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:46
37. Zach Bell (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling 0:47
38. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
39. Benjamin Wolfe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:48
40. David Williams (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
41. Andres Diaz (Col) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 0:49
42. Kristofer Dahl (Can) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
43. Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling 0:50
44. Nic Hamlton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
45. Jeremy Vennell (Nzl) Bissell Pro Cycling
46. Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano 0:51
47. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling
48. Jason McCartney (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 0:52
49. Taylor Shelden (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
50. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:53
51. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing Team
52. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
53. Robert Forster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
54. Marc Goos (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
55. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 0:54
56. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
57. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
58. Alexander Cataford (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
59. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 0:55
60. Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
61. Bruno Langlois (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 0:56
62. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-Shimano
63. Brian Vandborg (Den) Cannondale Pro Cycling
64. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:57
65. Fabian Wegemann (Ger) Team Garmin-Sharp
66. Garrett McLeod (Can) Canadian National Team
67. Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge
68. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano 0:59
69. Emerson Oronte (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
70. Clay Murfet (Aus) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
71. Eric Young (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
72. Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling 1:00
73. Clinton Avery (Nzl) Champion System Pro Cycling
74. Shane Kline (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis 1:02
75. Sean Mazich (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 1:04
76. Moreno Hofland (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1:06
77. Nicholai Brochner (Den) Bissell Pro Cycling
78. Ken Hanson (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 1:09
79. Pierrick Naud (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 1:10
80. Ryan Aitcheson (Can) Canadian National Team 1:11
81. Davide Frattini (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
82. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Canadian National Team 1:12
83. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
84. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
85. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team
86. Flavio De Luna (Mex) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis 1:13
87. Michael Woods (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
88. Luke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 1:15
89. Bobby Lea (USA) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
90. Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano 1:21
91. Stuart Wight (Can) Canadian National Team 1:22
92. Derrick St John (Can) Canadian National Team
93. Andrew Dahlheim (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
94. Chris Butler (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling
95. Aidis Kroupis (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge 1:25
96. William Clarke (Aus) Team Argos-Shimano 1:26
97. Fummi Beppu (Japan) Orica GreenEdge 1:27
98. Frank Pipp (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
99. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1:28
100. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
101. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Team Garmin-Sharp 1:31
102. Simon-Pierre Gauthier (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
103. Michael Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 1:33
104. Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling 1:34
105. Jean-Sebastien Perron (Can) Canadian National Team 1:37
106. Max Jenkins (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
107. Aldo Ilesic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 1:38
108. Jiyong Kang (Kor) Orica GreenEdge 1:44
109. Fu Shiu Cheung (HKg) Champion System Pro Cycling
110. Michael Chauner (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 1:49
111. Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Cannondale Pro Cycling
112. Benjamin Chaddock (Can) SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis 1:51
113. Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1:59
114. Carter Jones (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 2:03
115. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 2:04
116. Geoffroy Dussault (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor 2:15
117. James Stemper (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 2:21