Elite Women, Men Get Ready For Philadelphia International Cycling Classic
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As cycling enthusiasts and the curious flock to the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic on Sunday, organizers of this year's race have switched the lineup. The men go first, at 8 a.m., and the women are the featured event at 12:30 p.m.
The women's race has been bumped up in status. It's one of only ten UCI Women's World Cup events globally, and the only one in the United States this season. It draws top caliber riders in the field for the 74-mile long race, among them, Australian Jo Hogan of Team Tibco.
"It's great exposure for our team to be racing in this international field," she said, "as well as the development of women's cycling in America."
The men's race will cover about 111-miles.
A Philadelphia native, 22-year old Robin Carpenter, who now rides for Team Hincapie, apologized for being late to the race briefing.
'I forgot after living 20 years in Philadelphia," he said, "that you really can't turn left off of Broad Street until you get all the way to Olney Avenue."
Up until living and training recently in California, Carpenter had lived all of his life in Manayunk, near the race course.
"When i was much younger, I ran a lemonade stand right at the top of the wall," he said. "Last year, I was in the early breakaway for almost the entire race. Every time we went up the wall there was a wall of noise cheering my name."
The 12-mile course is packed with terrific locations to catch the action, like the Manayunk Wall, the steep road that tops out at the start/finish line on Roxborough's Lyceum Avenue, or the festive atmosphere on Lemon Hill, or the family-friendly East Falls Block Party along Midvale Avenue at Kelly Drive.
