A sea of cyclists depart on the 100-km ride at 9 a.m.
Photos by Lucie Roy
The 20th Annual Tour de l’Alberta departed from and returned to Morinville Sunday. More than 1,400 riders participated in six routes ranging from a 185-km ride that covered the region to a five kilometre children’s ride that took young cyclists to the Fish and Game Association Pond and back to the Ray McDonald Sports Center.
Started by Don Peddie in 1994, the Edmonton Cycling and Touring Club event is annual cycle through Alberta’s French corridor. The event always takes place on the final day of the Tour de France and for the past several years all routes have started and ended in Morinville. Tour founder Peddie (71) was among the first to depart Sunday, taking part in the 185-km ride. The initial run was followed by 150-km, 100-km, 50-km, 15-km family, and 5-km children’s rides. More than 175 registered for the 185-km route, 175 registered for the 150-km and more than 950 registered for the 100-km.
Not all cyclists wore riding gear. The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike, which accomodates 29, was on hand for a dozen regional politicians and residents to go on a fundraising tour on 100 Avenue and 100 Street.
Cyclist at the Legal Rest Stop water and juice tables.
Cyclists doing the 150-km route depart from the arena area at 8 a.m. Sunday morning.
Town of Morinville employee Allen Jacobson poses with Global Television personality Mike Sobel before Sobel departed on the 185-km cycle ride.
