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It was easy to spot self-proclaimed super fans Robert Carroll and Lorna McNeil on the final day of the Tour of Alberta.

“There’s always a devil at a bike race and the devil is usually at the top of the highest mountain,” Carroll said.

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The Grande Prairie couple has cheered on cyclists at every stage of this year’s race, travelling around the province in their motor home.

“Our shower is full of red paint,” McNeil said with a laugh.

The cycling enthusiasts were among the revellers who gathered in Churchill Square on Monday to celebrate Stage 5 of the race.

Athletes took off just before 2 p.m. with bystanders cheering and ringing cowbells, the traditional noisemaker in cycling. Commuters contended with road closures and traffic jams to make way for cyclists, who are completing 11 laps of a downtown circuit to total 124 kilometres of racing.

“We’re big cyclists ourselves, and we love seeing sports come to Alberta,” McNeil said. “(This) encourages young people to get involved and old people to get back involved in cycling. Because who can’t ride a bike? Everyone can.”