On the last Sunday of August, the city of Philadelphia will once again do something it has not done in a decade: hold its breath for a peloton. At 8:35 a.m., the professional women's field will roll out from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, followed at noon by the men's race, both navigating a 14.4-mile circuit that threads through Fairmount Park, East Falls, and Roxborough before slamming into the Manayunk Wall. By the time the last wheel crosses the line, the Philadelphia Cycling Classic will have reclaimed its place as one of America's top international cycling races.
The race began in 1985, when the course was first mapped by Jerry Casale and David Chauner. The Manayunk Wall — a steep incline on Levering Street that reaches a 17 percent grade over about half a mile — has been part of the race since its beginning.
The inaugural race in 1985 was won by Eric Heiden, an Olympic gold medalist speed skater. Over the years, the event attracted such names as Greg LeMond, George Hincapie, Fred Rodriguez, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, and Evelyn Stevens. In 1994, an elite women's race — known as the Liberty Classic — was added. Through 2005, the race served as the U.S. professional championship, and it later became part of the TD Bank Triple Crown of Cycling series.
By the mid-2010s, sponsorship money began to dry up. The race changed title sponsors as CoreStates became First Union, then Wachovia, then Commerce Bank, and then TD Bank. When TD Bank withdrew, the end came quickly. In late January 2017, organizers announced the race would not happen that year, citing an estimated $1 million cost and a lack of interested sponsors. The Philadelphia Cycling Classic left the calendar, leaving a hole in the city's sporting life.
That hole was felt by Carlos Rogers, a former racer who began an initiative in 2022 to revitalize the race. He partnered with former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Eric Robbins, and together they formed Race Street Partners. In September 2025, they announced the return of the race for 2026, with AmeriGas as title sponsor.
The revival brought together the pieces needed for a modern professional event. 6abc will serve as the broadcast partner, and the event is free for spectators. The 2026 edition will feature 36 teams and 212 riders from 28 countries, including eight WorldTour teams — three women's and five men's. Local riders Robin Carpenter and Kim Stoveld are among those confirmed. The course returns to the original start on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, passing the Philadelphia Museum of Art, along Boathouse Row, Strawberry Mansion, and Lemon Hill, before hitting the Wall.
The race maintains a long-standing tradition of equal prizes: both the men's and women's winners will receive $75,000 each. Trophies are crafted by John Rais, an artist and metalsmith based in North Philadelphia. A two-day Fan Fest at the Iroquois Sculpture near the Museum of Art will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with vendors, live entertainment, kids' activities, and a beer garden. On Saturday, an Amateur Time Trial will give weekend warriors the chance to ride the Wall themselves.
Organizers expect more than 100,000 spectators to attend. For one Sunday in August, Philadelphia will again be the heart of American cycling, and the Manayunk Wall will echo with the efforts of riders who traveled across the world to compete. The comeback is real.