Philadelphia International Championship

2008 Matti Breschel (DEN) CSC 6:14:47

2007 Juan-Jose Haedo (ARG) CSC 5:45:51

2006 Greg Henderson (NZL) Health Net – Maxxis 6.13.53

• Spectator estimates were 50,000 in 1985 and over 300,000 today.

• The average speed of the riders is approximately 25 miles per hour for the entire 156 mile race.

• A rider’s average speed up the wall is 8 to 18 miles per hour, depending upon the rider, which lap, and what their role is on the team.

ATTACK — A sudden attempt to get away from another rider.

BLOCKING — When a rider tries to get in the way of other riders, usually done as part of a team strategy to slow down the main field when other team members are ahead in a breakaway.

BONK — Known as “hitting the wall” in marathon running, this is when a rider completely runs out of energy.

Schedule of Story Opportunities:

WEDNESDAY or THURSDAY, June 3 or 4, 2009

• Learn what the pros know about beating the Manayunk Wall. How do you train for lap after lap up a grueling 17% grade, especially when you’re starting from a nearly complete stop? What’s it like to ride through Manayunk with the crowds going crazy?

• Plus, area amateur cyclists can test their own grit on the same course that the pros will ride by registering for the Philly Fun Ride – get tips on how to make it the ride of your life!

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2009

Time: 9:00am

Overview: America’s biggest and longest-running, single-day professional road race is the TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship, now celebrating its 25^th year. More than 200 of the world’s top male professional cyclists descend upon the city for 10 laps of a 14.4-mile circuit through Philadelphia. They will finish with three laps of Lemon Hill and Logan Circle, in one of the biggest special sporting events in the United States.

The TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship is managed by Pro Cycling Tour, LLC. Pro Cycling Tour (PCT) is the country's leading cycling marketing and event management company dedicated to the development of quality cycling events and programs in the United States. Based in the Philadelphia area, PCT creates and manages a variety of events and special programs for corporate sponsors, non-profit organizations and municipalities.

Audubon, Pa. (June 1, 2009) – The 16th annual Liberty Classic is one of the premier women's races in the world, and the 2009 edition on June 7 will have a field full of firepower to make for some fast and furious racing. The 57.6-mile race takes place over four laps of the same course as the men's Philadelphia International, including the feared Manayunk Wall, with its 17% average grade. Teams from around the world and all over the United States will compete for more than $22,000 in total cash prizes.

Audubon, Pa. (May 22, 2009) -- Celebrating its twenty-fifth year, the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship is known by professional cyclists worldwide and is considered a major win for any rider's career. Like every other year, this silver anniversary will welcome some of the top cycling teams from around the world and from across America, bringing big names of the sport to race up the famous Manayunk Wall.

Audubon, Pa. (May 29, 2009) – For the past quarter-century, the city of Philadelphia has been home to one of the monuments of American professional cycling -- the Philadelphia International Championship. This race has hosted some of the sport's greats from around the world. It’s also played a large role in developing cycling in the United States having served as the national championship race for 20 of those years from 1985 until 2005. Names like Armstrong, Heiden, Hincapie and Phinney have all won this race, marking a significant moment in all of their professional careers. But cycling aficionados from all over the world know and revere the race in Philadelphia -- the difficulty of the course with the feared 17%-grade Manayunk Wall and the often sweltering summer temperatures combined with a star-studded field of riders makes any winner here a true champion.

Audubon, Pa. (May 28, 2009) – The world’s elite pro cyclists will return to Philadelphia on Sunday, June 7, 2009 for the TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship – America’s biggest international race. This year’s event will mark the 25^th running of the only UCI Hors Category classic road race in the United States.