Philadelphia Cycling Classic to return in August 2026, joining crowded slate of sporting events in city
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is coming back in 2026, Mayor Cherelle Parker's office said Monday night.
The race is set to take place Aug. 30, 2026, city officials said during a press conference Tuesday at City Hall.
Philadelphia last hosted the race, which brings world-class cyclists to the city's streets and is known for the steep climb called the Manayunk Wall, in 2016. Over the years, the race was sponsored by a number of different banks and companies, but a lack of a sponsor led organizers to suspend the race for a decade.
In the news conference, King of Prussia-based AmeriGas, a subsidiary of UGI, announced it would sponsor the event. A website for the event is now live at PhiladelphiaCyclingClassic.com.
The 2026 race will follow its original route down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and along Kelly Drive through Boathouse Row and Strawberry Mansion and then up into Manayunk.
The Manayunk Wall, the 17% gradient hill on Levering Street, is considered one of the toughest in the sport.
Carlos Rogers spearheaded the effort to revive the race, a project that started in 2022.
"That started the journey to knocking on doors and reaching out to people who didn't know me and continued the path to where we are today," Rogers said.
Officials are bringing back the original course for the race — a 14.4-mile circuit that winds through several neighborhoods. One stands out, though.
"When you think of the history of Manayunk and the rise of it, it goes along the path with the race. The race helped put us on the map," said Joan Denenberg with the Manayunk Development Corporation.
The race drew huge crowds along the course, cheering and ringing cowbells in support of some of the world's fastest cyclists.
"It's literally a chance to showcase our neighborhoods, our culture," Parker said.
The last winners of the race in 2016 were Eduard Prades of Spain and Megan Gaurnier of the United States.
The race joins a crowded slate of sporting events planned for Philadelphia in 2026, including the MLB All-Star Game, World Cup matches and men's March Madness games. The PGA Championship will also be in the area at Newtown Square's Aronimink Golf Club.
The events are part of the city's yearlong celebration of the country's 250th anniversary, but organizers say they plan to keep the Philadelphia Cycling Classic going for years to come.
