Female cyclists put the pedal to the metal at the annual Manayunk Bike Race

By Jill Beckel

For the first time in the event’s 32-year-history, the women’s UCI Road World Cup headlined The Philadelphia International Cycling Classic races in Philly on Sunday, June 7.

If you’re from the ‘Yunk, you know that this is one of the biggest events of the year. The cyclists train all year for this big event and it’s known throughout Philly and across the nation.

The men’s UCI America Tour/USA Cycling NRC race began at 8 a.m. and the women’s World Cup at noon. The race followed the same course design as the last two years, with the start and finish line at the top of the daunting Manayunk Wall. Cyclists traveled the 12 mile course through Manayunk, as well as East Falls, Kelly Drive and Fairmount Park. The race began and ended at Lyceum Avenue in Manayunk, the top of the famed Manayunk Wall.

The races seemed a lot more tame this year compared to year’s past. There was still plenty of restaurant food and drink specials and drinking games along Main Street and under the bridge. Revelers were playing a variety of games on Main Street and the surrounding streets including hula hoops, corn hole, Frisbee and more. The crowd happily stopped what they were doing and cheered every time the cyclists flew past.

Police motorists lead the way for the women’s race.

The female bicyclists had their A-game on.

Everyone gathered at “The Wall” as the women’s race came to a close. Lizzie Armitstead won the women’s World Cup and Carlos Barbero Cuesta won the men’s UCI America Tour/USA Cycling NRC race earlier in the day. Each winner received $30,000 prize money. Anyone who can make it up the Wall on a bike in 90 degree weather is a champion in our book.