The past world road and Tour de France champion said he is anxious to start the second phase of his season after last competing at the Tour de France, which ended July 21.

"Firstly I'd just like get some racing in my legs, and hopefully test myself on one of the later, more selective stages," Evans said.

The 7.3km prologue could be crucial to the overall, BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Jackson Stewart said. "This is a new race, so no one really knows it," he said. "But we know it is pretty flat and there are time bonuses. Without a pure sprinter here, we will need to do well in the prologue and then try and defend that position the rest of the week."

Joining Evans on the BMC Racing Team roster are two riders – Brent Bookwalter and Larry Warbasse – who helped Tejay van Garderen win the USA Pro Challenge last month, plus Marcus Burghardt, Amaël Moinard and Steve Morabito and stagiaires Silvan Dillier and Jakub Novak.

BMC Racing Team line-up for Tour of Alberta:
Brent Bookwalter (USA), Marcus Burghardt (GER), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Cadel Evans (AUS), Amaël Moinard (FRA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Jakub Novak (CZE), Larry Warbasse (USA).