JORDAN CHEYNE FASTEST NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER AS TOUR OF ALBERTA KICKS OFF
Three Canadians amongst the Top 10 in prologue
(Ottawa, ON – September 2, 2014) Jordan Cheyne of Belleville, ON was the fastest amongst the Canadian National Team as the second edition of the Tour of Alberta kicked off in Calgary, AB on Tuesday.
Cheyne posted a time of 6:35, completing the short, 4-km prologue that featured a 1.5km steep climb to finish the race. The cyclist from Russ Hays Cycling Team in Victoria currently sits in 29th place of the general classification.
Professional cyclist Hugo Houle of Ste-Perpétue, QC, from WorldTour Team AG2R La Mondiale, is pleased to see progress as he comes back from health issues: “I was feeling really good. I’ve had stomach problems for the last two weeks, and today I didn’t feel any pain, which is very positive. I gave everything I had for the prologue today, but there was still a little something missing to make the difference,” said Houle, after the race. “The climb was slightly difficult, of course, because you arrive at the base already exhausted. The weather was quite cold, so it was difficult for the lungs. The suffering came mostly from the respiration than the legs.”
“For the next stages, we’ll be aggressive and see how the race unfolds. We are certainly expecting that Giant-Shimano controls the race. If I have a chance at it, I’ll make a go at the sprint. Otherwise, I’ll try to be upfront if there are strong winds.”
Race favorite Tom Dumoulin of Team Giant-Shimano was the fastest of the 118-men who are taking part in the Tour of Alberta, completing the prologue with a time of 5:59, 14 seconds faster than his closest competitor. The Dutch rider will wear the yellow jersey in Stage 2.
Canada’s Zach Bell of North Vancouver (Team SmartStop) was the fastest Canadian, posting the eighth fastest time. Bell will be wearing the Red Jersey tomorrow as the Top Canadian. Christian Meier of Sussex, NB (Team Orica-GreenEDGE) finished just behind Bell in ninth position while Ryan Roth of Cambridge, ON (Silber Pro Cycling) took the tenth position
“I picked up cycling in Calgary, so I am pretty familiar with the area. I am happy with how the race went. I’m with some pretty good company up there, so this is a good start for Team SmartStop, and I believe we can follow it up over the next few days,” said Bell. “The Canadian guys were pretty hungry for this race. The guys around me (in the top 10) are good buddies. This course was laid out in order to give us some pretty good opportunities.”
Throughout the next five days, the peloton will travel over 700km in Southern and Central Alberta, with the race ending in Edmonton on Sunday.
The six stages of the race can be seen live in Canada on Sportsnet. Check local listings for broadcast details.
Stage 2 will be six laps of a 23-kilometre circuit in Lethbridge, AB.
2014 TOUR OF ALBERTA
RESULTS – STAGE 1 – PROLOGUE (Calgary, AB)
1. DUMOULIN Tom * Team GIANT-SHIMANO 5:59
2. TVETCOV Serghei JELLY BELLY pb MAXXIS 6:13 +0:14
3. DANIELSON Thomas Team GARMIN-SHARP 6:16 +0:17
4. VILLELLA Davide * CANNONDALE 6:17 +0:18
5. SUMMERHILL Daniel UNITEDHEALTHCARE Pro Cycling 6:17 +0:18
6. GAIMON Phillip Team GARMIN-SHARP 6:18 +0:19
7. ROSSKOPF Joseph HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR DEVELOPMENT 6:21 +0:22
8. BELL Zachary # Team SMARTSTOP 6:21 +0:22
9. MEIER Christian # ORICA-GREENEDGE 6:22 +0:23
10. ROTH Ryan # SILBER Pro Cycling 6:22 +0:23
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29. CHEYNE Jordan * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:33 +0:34
46. HOULE Hugo * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:38 +0:39
60. MCLEOD Garrett # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:44 +0:45
69. DE VOS Adam * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:48 +0:49
92. PERRY Benjamin * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:00 +1:01
98. CANNING Cody # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:03 +1:04
102. WIGHT Stuart * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:07 +1:08
118. PERRON Jean-Sebastian # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:32 +1:33
RESULTS – GENERAL CLASSIFICATION (AFTER STAGE 1)
1. DUMOULIN Tom * Team GIANT-SHIMANO 5:59
2. TVETCOV Serghei JELLY BELLY pb MAXXIS 6:13 +0:14
3. DANIELSON Thomas Team GARMIN-SHARP 6:16 +0:17
4. VILLELLA Davide * CANNONDALE 6:17 +0:18
5. SUMMERHILL Daniel UNITEDHEALTHCARE Pro Cycling 6:17 +0:18
6. GAIMON Phillip Team GARMIN-SHARP 6:18 +0:19
7. ROSSKOPF Joseph HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR DEVELOPMENT 6:21 +0:22
8. BELL Zachary # Team SMARTSTOP 6:21 +0:22
9. MEIER Christian # ORICA-GREENEDGE 6:22 +0:23
10. ROTH Ryan # SILBER Pro Cycling 6:22 +0:23
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29. CHEYNE Jordan * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:33 +0:34
46. HOULE Hugo * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:38 +0:39
60. MCLEOD Garrett # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:44 +0:45
69. DE VOS Adam * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 6:48 +0:49
92. PERRY Benjamin * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:00 +1:01
98. CANNING Cody # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:03 +1:04
102. WIGHT Stuart * # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:07 +1:08
118. PERRON Jean-Sebastian # CANADIAN NATIONAL Team 7:32 +1:33
JERSEYS (AFTER STAGE 1)
Yellow Jersey (Race Leader): DUMOULIN Tom * Team GIANT-SHIMANO 5:59
Green Jersey (Top Sprinter): N/A
Polka Dot King of the Mountain Jersey (Best Climber): N/A
White Jersey (Best Young Rider): DUMOULIN Tom * Team GIANT-SHIMANO 5:59
Red Jersey (Top Canadian Rider): BELL Zachary # Team SMARTSTOP 6:21 +0:22
Blue Jersey (Most Aggressive Rider): N/A
