Tour of Alberta bike race announced

Cycling enthusiasts are getting set for the first ever Tour of Alberta, a six-day bike race around the province.

The new race will be held in the fall of 2013, winding through much of the province, including the Rocky Mountains.

• Hear Calgary Eyeopener host David Gray talk to organizer Alex Stieda about the race. Click on the "Listen" button above.

Alex Stieda, a former professional cyclist from Edmonton, said he’s been working for a long time to bring such a race to the province.

"It’s a six-day stage race, just like the Tour De France, where the guys race individual stages every day and the overall winner is the rider with the lowest cumulative time over six days," Stieda.

"We’ll have teams that race in the Tour De France."

The Alberta event is a major undertaking with a budget of about $1 million a day and will involve many volunteers, he said.