City gets ready for return of Philadelphia Cycling Classic later this month

The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is set to return after a 10-year hiatus, bringing professional cyclists back to a course that winds through Philadelphia and includes the challenging Manayunk Wall climb. "It is a race that should have never gone away, and we are just proud to bring it back," said Eric Robbins, co-founder of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic. Organizers say the event's return is a major moment for the city and cycling fans. "It is such a win for the city. It's amazing for the community, amazing for the bicycling racing fans and spectators," said Carlos Rogers, co-owner of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic. The race's co-founders acknowledged that reviving the event was a significant undertaking. "It has taken a lot of effort. Imagine standing behind a huge boulder and trying to figure out what tools to use to push the boulder up the hill and kind of go from there," Rogers said. Organizers noted that for 30 years the event was known as America's top one-day professional cycling race. They hope its return will once again make Philadelphia a destination for the sport. "From people who are passionate about the sport, to people who just like to ride their bikes back and forth to work, to have an opportunity to be together. It is just a huge event for the city that we missed for so many years and it's great to have it back," Rogers said. On Aug. 30, professional men's and women's cyclists will compete on a 14.4-mile course that includes the Manayunk Wall climb. "Nobody loves a comeback more than Philadelphia. So for us to be able to provide it back to this great and amazing city, we are happy to do so," Robbins said. Organizers expect the event to have a significant economic impact and draw visitors from around the world. They said enthusiasm surrounding the race mirrors excitement around other major events hosted by the city, including the FIFA World Cup and the MLB All-Star Game. "I hope that the fans of Philadelphia, the spectators, the civic leaders, appreciate the effort that has gone into bringing back this vital race that has a 30-year history and what it meant for the city and that everyone rallies around the caucus here, so to speak, to support the event," Rogers said. The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is free to attend. Organizers expect 100,000 fans and have planned a two-day fan festival featuring vendors, food and music alongside race weekend activities. 6abc is the exclusive broadcast partner for the event and will provide live coverage beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 30 on 6abc and its streaming platforms.