To close down summer, Cochranites are going to be treated to a spectacle.
Stage two of the Tour of Alberta will be racing through town on Sept. 2.
Presented by ATB Financial, the tour is Canada’s first and highest ranked professional road cycling stage race.
Held from Sept. 1 to 5, the fourth edition of the race will see around 120 of the world’s finest cyclists roll across the beautiful province of Alberta on both rural and urban roads during the five stage event.
The event is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale and Canadian Cycling Association, receiving a 2.1 ranking – the highest ever given to a Canadian stage race.
Stage two, which runs 182 km, begins at Kananaskis and sees riders compete along Highway 40 to Bow Valley Trail before coming through Cochrane and heading north up Road 766, with the finish line in Olds.
Stage one is a 106.9 km circuit through Lethbridge, while stage three is a 181.2 km race across rural roads from Rocky Mountain House to Drayton Valley.
Stage four and five of the competition are both held around Edmonton and area.
Apart from the race itself, there are festivals held every day at the finish line area, which include arts, entertainment, mascot races and more.
The festival for stage two is being held at the Pomeroy Inn and Suites in Olds.
For additional information on the tour visit www.tourofalberta.ca.
