Yesterday, a team time trial over 19.6 kilometers was held in Grand Prairie to kick-off the six-day Tour of Alberta. BORA – ARGON 18 impressed again in this discipline and just barely missed the podium at its premiere in Canada. On the fast and technically less demanding course, the favorite teams of Trek and Orica Green Edge delivered a duel, which was decided by less than a second in favor of the American team. BORA – ARGON 18 scored the fourth place in the race, in which no time trial equipment was allowed, and it’s again the best team of its class in a team time trial.

"Our goal was a podium and we have just missed it. After the very good team time trial at the Czech Cycling Tour recently, we were very motivated and wanted to risk a lot today. The boys rode at the limit right from the start and they set the second best intermediate time. Unfortunately, it came to a misunderstanding in the finale, where we had to wait shortly for a rider. In a discipline where every second counts, such errors are punished immediately and it cost us the podium. In this high-profile WorldTour line-up the fourth place is indeed quite a success, but the guys know that the podium was in reach. We would have liked to kick off the race with a result to thank our co-sponsor Argon 18 for their great support. So we’ll postpone it to the next stages", Sport Director Christian Pömer comments the opening of the Tour of Alberta. 

Today, the second stage leads over 172 kilometers on mainly flat terrain but with a difficulty in the second half of the race: a climb of almost 1.5 kilometers, which has to be tackled three times. Late attacks at this point could prevent a bunch sprint decision.