The Tour of Alberta route through Innisfail has been finalized.
Stage 2 of the elite cycling event on Sept. 4, which will be broadcast throughout the world, will include a double loop through Innisfail's downtown that will exit town to Highway 54, north to Sylvan Lake, and ultimately finish in Red Deer. The total distance for the estimated 120 riders for Stage 2 is 145 km.
Tammy Oliver-McCurdie, the operation coordinator for the local Tour of Alberta committee, said the Stage 2 route through Innisfail was finalized July 23 in Red Deer during a meeting with local and Tour of Alberta officials.
As well as finalizing the route through Innisfail, organizers are also well on their way to ensuring the day-long local event is memorable for both locals and participants, said Tammy Oliver-McCurdie, who is also the town's Family and Community Support Services manager.
“I think it will be great for the families and for those attending the event. We are partnering with the schools to see how we can get them involved,” said Oliver-McCurdie, adding the downtown will also have areas for VIP and media parking, as well as two festival areas for vendors and street performers. There will also be a publicly accessible Team Parking Area where riders will be preparing for the race. “This area will be open to the public to meet and greet the 120 riders from all over the world, get pictures and autographs prior to race start. It is really going to be engaging for the community,” she said.
Innisfail's Stage 2 participation for the five-stage world-class bicycle race, which begins Sept. 2 in Calgary and ends Sept. 7 in Edmonton, received official approval last spring.
This year's Tour of Alberta follows last year's immensely successful inaugural race that generated $24 million in economic activity for the province. The six-day event attracted extensive television coverage that was broadcast in more than 160 countries across the world.
The race is sanctioned by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and is part of the UCI America Tour. It is classified as a 2.1 race, making it one of the highest rated races on the tour – in the same league as the prestigious Tour de France.
Town council unanimously approved a motion on April 28 to make a financial contribution of $20,000 and provide in-kind services, such as road barricades and volunteers. Since then, the town has formed a committee of 19 citizens, with six being on the Innisfail Event Planning Team.
To date, Innisfail Kinsmen, Innisfail & District Chamber of Commerce and the Innisfail Lions Club have donated $2,000 towards events for Stage 2. Local organizers are expecting additional donations from the local Royal Canadian Legion and the Rotary Club of Innisfail. Telus has also donated $2,500 for the street performers.
Innisfail's Main Street will be the focal point for Stage 2. Opening ceremonies will start at 11:10 a.m. on Main Street between 49th Avenue and 50 Avenue.
The race will begin with a shotgun start at 12:10 next to the ATB Financial, which along with Subway, is sponsoring this year's Tour of Alberta. Riders will cycle west, turn south on 51 Avenue, ride past the school grounds, turn east on 42 Street, and then cycle north on 49 Avenue and back on to Main Street. They will then head west again, past the ATB, and do another loop before heading out of town on Lakewood Drive, past the library, and all the way out to Highway 54.
The festival areas - one of 50 Avenue between 53 and 50 streets and the other at 50 Avenue between 50 and 49 streets - will open at 9:30 a.m. and run until 2:30 p.m. “Our committee is working hard finalizing commitments for a pancake breakfast and a barbecue, There will be street performers, musical entertainment, exhibitors and much more,” said Oliver-McCurdie, adding final information will soon be presented to the community.
She said if any citizen is interested in being part of the Stage 2 event as an exhibitor, they can pick up a form at the town office and fill it out by Aug 1.
“We will also need many volunteers for this event, various shifts and positions available both in the morning and afternoon,” said Oliver-McCurdie.
If anyone is interested in volunteering they can go to the Tour of Alberta website www.tourofalberta.ca and sign up under Innisfail or call Eileen Reid, the town's community volunteer coordinator, at 403-227-7744.
