Alberta: Some of the planet's top cyclists are in Alberta without much fanfare to partake in the first ever Tour of Alberta – a six-day worldwide expert stage race.

The race, which commences in Edmonton on Tuesday, will see 118 cyclists cover 850 kilometres of urban and provincial ways in more than 18 groups before closing in Calgary on Sunday.

The race is free for onlookers to watch and will pass through Edmonton, Strathcona County, Camrose, Devon, Red Deer, Drumheller, Black Diamond, Okotoks and Calgary.

The occasion, which is authorized by the Union Cycliste Internationale and the Canadian Cycling Association, has gained a ranking of 2.1– the most elevated ever for a Canadian stage race.

Previous expert cyclist and Canadian Olympian Alex Stieda has pushed for a race of this stature to come to Alberta for almost 10 years.

 Among the riders contending in not long from now ‘Tour of Alberta’ incorporate 2011 Tour de France victor Cadel Evans, the planet's No. 2-stacked up rider Peter Sagan and Canada's own Ryder Hesjedal.

Hesjedal, who won the prestigious Giro d'italia in 2012, said he's astounded with the cycling society in Alberta.

Not long from now, on the other hand, riders won't have the ability to contend in the mountain phase of the race after extreme flooding in June harmed expansive parts of the arranged track between Black Diamond and Canmore. Rather, contenders will confront an arrangement of moving mounts.

The area's Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Verlyn Olson said the race presents a mind blowing chance to place Alberta in the spotlight.

By: calgaryindians staff correspondent