Pro cyclists in Edmonton for Tour of Alberta

World class cycling comes to this province on Tuesday when the six-day Tour of Alberta kicks off in Edmonton.

The race features six teams which compete in the Tour de France, a field including Canadian Ryder Hesjedal.

The prologue of the race takes place in downtown Edmonton starting at 6:15 p.m. tomorrow. 

Subsequent legs of the race take riders to Camrose, Devon, Red Deer, Strathmore, Drumheller, Black Diamond and Okotoks before wrapping up in Calgary on Sunday.

Some of the competitors got their first look at Edmonton on Monday. Australian pro-cyclist Will Clarke arrived on Sunday night.

"I was racing on the weekend in the Netherlands, it’s [a] pretty hard lead-up to coming here," he said. "So hopefully, I'll freshen up before the prologue tomorrow night."

Cadel Evans, winner of the 2011 Tour de France, is also competing. His most recent training rides introduced him to one of Edmonton’s most notorious features.

"Lots of potholes on the road," he said. " I understand you have very harsh, harsh winters."

However, the race will inconvenience commuters on Tuesday afternoon.

Roads around downtown will be completely closed from 5:15 p.m. to the end of the prologue at approximately 9 p.m.

Former pro-cyclist Alex Stieda urged Edmontonians to be patient.

"I just hope people can understand the impact of this event and just bear with us for the few hours that the race is closed," he said.