Cycling is an endurance sport that has a long season, requiring riders to train for peaks throughout the year. While each team has specialists in different aspects of racing, from sprinting to climbing to breakaways, a glance at recent results can also offer insight into who is peaking at the right time for the win in Philadelphia.

The odds-on favorite, both in terms of past results along with recent ones, has to be Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale.) The 20 year-old Slovakian rider is a natural talent at all kinds of races, and the harder the race the better. His results from 2010, including two stage wins at the Tour of California, continue into 2011 with another stage win in this year's edition just three weeks ago.  

Another rider who is on good form coming from the Tour of California is Pat McCarty (Spidertech powered by C10) with a very big win as the King of the Mountains champion. 

U.S. domestic teams target the Philadelphia Championships every year as one of the big races, eager to show their sponsors a top result at a prestigious race. The United Healthcare team has a strong legacy in this department and has very recent winners, with Jake Keough and Boy van Poppel posting a one-two placing at the Tour of Sommerville in New Jersey a week ago. 

The USA Cycling national championships took place last weekend and many of the top finishers there are racing in Philly. Tom Zirbel (Jamis-Sutter Home) was the runner-up in the time trial for a second time, showing very good form for a breakaway. 

HTC-Highroad is not sending the defending champ back this year, but will have riders who are posting good recent results. Young American Tejay Van Garderen took fourth at the recent road championships and was on the podium for a stage at the Tour of California. Teammate Leigh Howard was on two podiums at the same race. 

In the women's race, world champ Giorgia Bronzini (Colavita/Forno d'Asolo) has strung together some good results so far this season, including fourth at the Tour of Somerville, a win at the Grand Prix Gatineau in Quebec and a top-ten at the most recent World Cup race in China. Teammate Theresa Cliff-Ryan won the Tour of Somerville and was on the podium at the Grand Prix Gatineau.

Veteran race Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) has two strong results in the past two weeks, with second at the Tour of Somerville and second at the Wilmington Grand Prix.

Joelle Numainville (TIBCO-To The Top) was the other on the podium at the Grand Prix Gatineau, finishing second.