PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Cycling Classic will hit the streets next summer, returning for the first time in a decade.
For thirty years, the bike race was a highlight not only of the international cycling schedule but of the city’s menu of big events. It ended in 2016, beset by climbing costs and a loss of sponsorship. Cycling enthusiast Carlos Rogers dreamed of bringing it back and, perhaps as much to his surprise as to anyone’s, he did it.
“Races like this don’t come back. It’s kind of unheard of in the sport,” said Rogers at a press conference on Tuesday, announcing the return of the race. Rogers and Eric Robbins joined with former Mayor Michael Nutter as race organizers.
“The legacy continues,” Nutter said, “for the riders to return to this legendary course and for the fans: both long-time or maybe it’s your first one coming.”
Next year’s race will follow the original challenging course. Part of the circuit sees cyclists race shoulder-to-shoulder up the Manayunk Wall. And, they have to climb that steep 17% grade multiple times.
It’s a feature that three-time winner Freddie Rodriguez said makes the race not just an epic challenge but an emotional high.
“You hear the cheer, you hear the crowd, you hear them having fun, you come onto that climb, you just feel the energy from the crowd to finally end up coming into what felt like a stadium when you come back to the Parkway,” he said. “You got goosebumps.”
The race starts and finishes at Logan Square, taking cyclists along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Kelly Drive through Strawberry Mansion, Lemon Hill, Boathouse Row and Manayunk.
Now presented by AmeriGas, the race will return on Aug. 30, 2026. Rogers sees a renewed enthusiasm surrounding the event. “It’s kind of what I expected, because this race is so iconic that there would be an international excitement for it coming back,” he said.
“This world-class event will again put Philadelphia on the global stage in 2026, and it will go well beyond next year’s celebration,” Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement. “An exceptional, experienced team is in place to build on the legacy of this event for many years to come.”
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is sanctioned by both USA Cycling and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). It will be one of just two UCI-sanctioned, one-day road races at the 1.1 category in the U.S. in 2026.
It will offer equal prizes, a total of $75,000 each, for the women’s and men’s races. The women’s race will total about 62 miles on the 14.4-mile circuit, and the men’s race will total about 120 miles.