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Reduced funding blamed for discontinuation of Tour of Alberta

Feb 15, 2018 | 11:55 AM

EDMONTON –  The Alberta Peloton Association announced Thursday morning that the society will cease ATB Tour of Alberta operations and discontinue any future planned events.
 
Association Board Chair, Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, says the decision was not any easy one to make.
 
“However with the current economic conditions and decreases in traditional funding sources, we had no other option. We wish to express our sincere thanks to the partners, communities, vendors, volunteers, staff, cyclists, teams and fans that made the ATB Tour of Alberta a success over the last five years.” 
 
Beginning in 2013, and over the following five years, 29 Alberta communities, have hosted over 525 professional cyclists representing 33 countries.  The ATB Tour of Alberta, which was one of North America’s top cycling events, brought some of the world’s best cyclists to the province.  It was broadcast around the world annually in over 150 countries and reached tens of millions of annual viewers.
 
The event won several awards, including Canadian Cycling Road Event of the Year in 2017, the ATB Tour of Alberta provided fans an opportunity to enjoy community festivals and participate in amateur rides before watching the stars of the sport compete.
 
The City of Lethbridge hosted the opening leg of the event in 2014 and 2016, and got an important profile boost