The Lacombe Corn Maze has made a nod to a major event coming to Central Alberta next month.

“It’s fantastic,” said Rachel Kraay, one of the owners of the Kraay Family Farm. “Alberta is hosting Canada’s first major international professional stage race. We couldn’t wait to be a part of it and look forward to hosting a number of events that relate to the event.”

The Kraay Family Farm will celebrate the Tour of Alberta with a special ‘Tour Day’ including a bike trail around the maze, food and other special activities.

“We also will invite the families of the racers to experience some authentic farming fun while they are here in Alberta,” she said. “The Tour will draw athletes that have competed in many of the world’s top races. It’s very exciting.”

The Tour of Alberta is a major international professional cycling race and the province’s first taste of the growing global sport of cycling.

Red Deer will be a part of Stage Two of the event on Sept. 5.

The cyclists will be starting in Devon and finishing in Red Deer. Riders will enter Red Deer on Hwy. 11 to 30 Ave., then turn south on 30th to Ross St.

Heading west on Ross St. they will enter the downtown loop at the corner of Ross St. and 40th Ave.

Riders will complete the loop three times. Racers are often traveling upwards of 75km on the sprints or flats into the finish line. The finish line will be in downtown Red Deer (50 St. between 47 & 48 Ave).

The race will temporarily close select roads in and around Red Deer’s downtown area. The finish line and festival area is Ross St. from 47 Ave. to 49 Ave.

This area will be closed starting at 12 p.m., Sept. 4th until midnight Sept. 5th.

Several other downtown roads will also be closed during the race. A full list of road closures and maps can be found on the City’s web site.

The Tour of Alberta is scheduled for Sept. 3–8 throughout the province.

This world-class event is estimated to travel more than 800 km of urban and rural Alberta roads and will include more than 50 communities. The event will feature more than 15 of the world’s top teams, including teams that competed in the Tour de France earlier this summer.

Many volunteers are still needed to successfully host this event. Residents interested can register online at www.tourofalberta.ca and the Red Deer Volunteer Coordinator through Red Deer Tourism will contact you.

For more information, visit www.reddeer.ca/tourofalberta or www.facebook.com/tourofalbertareddeer.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com