Philadelphia’s annual professional cycling race – renamed just this year, the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic – takes place on Sunday, June 7 and we wanted to offer you an insider’s guide on what you need to know if you plan on attending.
First things first, you’ll need to know the schedule for the day:
The Bicycling Open
6:00 a.m. – Packet pickup starts (pre-registered only, no race day registration)
6:45 a.m. – Ride starts!
8:00 a.m. – Sag wagon sweeps the course, remaining riders must follow “the rules of the road” back to start at Sedgley Drive.
Men’s Race
The Men’s race is part of the prestigious UCI America Tour. The Men’s race will start earlier this year with the men battling for 9 laps on a course taking in the Philadelphia communities of Manayunk, Roxborough and East Falls.
8:00 a.m. – Men’s UCI America Tour / USA Cycling NRC race starts 9 laps, 110.7 miles / 173km
12:00 p.m. – Approximate finish
Women’s World Cup Race
For the first time since 2001 Women’s Road World Cup racing returns to Philadelphia. The race will feature the world’s best cyclists competing on our beautiful 12.3 mile circuit.
12:30 p.m. – Women’s World Cup race starts 6 laps, 73.8 miles / 115km
3:45 p.m. – Approximate finish
Lifestyle Expo
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Lyceum Avenue between Mitchell and Pechin Streets
Remember, all Philadelphia International Cycling Classic events take place rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, events may experience a temporary delay or cancellation. If severe weather occurs on event day, updates will be posted on Twitter and Facebook. In the event of cancellation due to severe weather, no refunds will be made.
The teams competing this year include the following:
Men’s Race
Airgas SAFEWAY – USA
AMORE & VITA Selle SMP – UKR
Astellas Cycling Team – USA
Caja Rural – Seguros RGA – ESP
Champion System – Stan’s NoTubes – USA
Drapac Professional Cycling – AUS
Garneau – Quebecor – CAN
H&R Block Pro Cycling Team – CAN
Hincapie Racing Team – USA
In Cycle Cannondale – PUR
Jamis – Haagens Berman p/b Sutter Home – USA
Jelly Belly Cycling Team p/b MAXXIS – USA
Jet Fuel Cycling – CAN
Lupus Racing Team – USA
Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies – USA
Ride with Rendall – CAN
Silber Pro Cycling – CAN
Team Budget Forklifts – AUS
Team Novo Nordisk – USA
Team SmartStop – USA
Team Trefor-Blue Water – DEN
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling – USA
Velo Select Racing Team – CAN
Women’s Race
Alé Cipollini – ITA
Bigla Pro Cycling – SUI
BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental Group – USA
Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team – NED
BTC City Ljubljana – SLO
Colavita Bianchi – USA
Colombian National Team – COL
Cycling Canada – CAN
Fearless Femme p/b Haute Wheels – USA
HiTec Products – NOR
ITAU Shimano Ladies Power Team – ARG
Mexican National – MEX
Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies – USA
Pepper Palace p/b The Happy Tooth Team – USA
Tibco-SVB – USA
TWENTY16 p/b SHO-AIR – USA
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling – USA
Velocio-SRAM Pro Cycling – GER
Wiggle Honda – GBR
Xirayas de San Luis – ARG
The course, which any biker can ride at 6:45 a.m. before the races starts, is a 12.3-mile circuit that winds its way through Manayunk, Roxborough, East Falls, Fairmount Park and Lemon Hill, with a large portion of the race taking place along scenic Kelly Drive and the Schuylkill River. It begins and ends at Lyceum Avenue in downtown Roxborough — the top of the Manayunk Wall. Below is a map of the course.
Don’t worry about getting to the race, there are plenty of ways. One is through SEPTA, who will be running special event day Regional Rail service. Additional Regional Rail service on the Manayunk/Norristown Line will be available for customers attending the race.
The special SEPTA schedule includes:
- Added inbound service towards Manayunk & Center City:
- Service will operate every 30 minutes from Norristown Transportation Center to Manayunk and continuing to Center City between 7:43 a.m. and 6:43 p.m.
- Service will operate every hour at Elm Street and Main Street Stations between 8:10 a.m. and 6:40 p.m.
- Added outbound service towards Norristown (Elm St.)
- Service will operate every 30 minutes from 30th Street Station to Manayunk between 7:26 a.m. and 6:26 p.m.
Here are some tips for those of you who may not be interested in attending the race, but still want to be able to get around the city this weekend.
- All cars need to be moved off the race course in Manayunk by 11:59 a.m. on Saturday because beginning at 12:00 noon vehicles will be towed off the course.
- The following streets will be closed due to the event: Ridge Ave. – School House Lane to Hermit Street, Main St. – Ridge Ave. to Green Lane, Levering – Main to tower, Cresson – Levering to Cotton, Lyceum – Tower to Mitchell, Pechin St. – Green Lane to Roxborough Ave., Roxborough – Mitchell to Terrace, and Manayunk – Roxborough Ave. to Ridge Ave.
- The entire length of Kelly Drive will be completely closed to all traffic (Park Trolleys included) and parking. The Inner Drive of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from 20th Street to Eakins Oval. Cross traffic will be permitted on 20th, 21st, and 22nd Streets.
- There will be no vehicle access (including trolleys) to the Lemon Hill, Mount Pleasant, and Ormiston Mansions. Residents of these houses will not be permitted to drive vehicles on roads of the race course after 6:30 a.m.
- There will be no vehicle access to the Dairy and Edgely ball fields.
- Vehicles (including bicycles) will not be permitted to enter the park at Dauphin Drive.
- Vehicles entering at Diamond Drive will be given access up to Reservoir Drive only.
- Vehicles entering the park at Oxford Drive will be permitted as far as Smith Playground only.
- Sedgley Drive will be closed at Girard Avenue. Brewery Hill Drive will be closed at Girard Avenue. Poplar Drive (Girard Avenue traffic) will be closed at Poplar Street with all traffic directed east on Poplar Street.
- There will be no access to the Park from Hunting Park Avenue, the Roosevelt Expressway or Midvale Avenue.
- There will be no parking on Waterworks Drive, or Lemon Hill.
Enjoy the race!
