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Lethbridge to Again Host First Leg of Tour of Alberta

Apr 18, 2016 | 11:06 AM

EDMONTON:  Lethbridge will have a chance to redeem itself from the unfortunate 2014 downpour that dampened some spirits for the Tour of Alberta.

The 2016 five-day event kick starts in Lethbridge Sept 1, and serves as a precursor to mountainous landscape as the peleton begins in Kananaskis for stage two.

The race will bend through Mountain View County, Alberta’s esteemed college-towns, Olds, which is centrally located along the busy QEII corridor.

Stage three begins September 3, contested in Alberta’s Heartland, Rocky Mountain House in partnership with Clearwater County.

The peloton travels up “Cowboy Trail” and finishes in the quaint town of Drayton Valley.

On September 4, cyclists will arrive in Edmonton and finish for the day at the site where the ITU World Triathlon Edmonton will take place earlier in the day.

In the Hawrelak Park, fans will have the chance to cheer on both cyclists and triathletes.

The final day will be hosted at Churchill Square, Edmonton which sports a 121 kilometer 11 lap competitive circuit through the city’s downtown core.

Exact routes and course maps will be released at a later date.

The tour, which typically spans over the six days, has been reduced to five because of economic difficulties.

Jared Smith, Alberta Peloton Association Chairman, said that the tour is expected to return to a six day event.