PHILADELPHIA (June 7, 2009) – In a turn of the table, the women racing in the 16th annual Liberty Classic passed the men racing the TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship, showing just how fast and hard the women were racing their four laps of the grueling course up the Manayunk Wall. But in the end, it was a similar story with a large field sprint, easily won by Germany's Ina-Yoko Teutenberg of Team Columbia-Highroad.

More than 200 amateur cyclists, ranging in age from 11 to 66, took part in the Philadelphia International Championship amateur time trial the morning before the professionals hit the streets. The 8.6 mile course along the Schuylkill River is a race against the clock for each rider, testing individual ability and talent. 

Riders lined up starting at 7:00 a.m. and started at 30-second intervals. A time-trial is different than a road race, which is the headline event on Sunday. The singular goal of a time trial is to simply cover the course in as little time as possible, with a rider pushing the limit for as long as possible. This discipline is also when riders are allowed to utilize the most aerodynamic equipment as possible, with the well-known tear-drop style helmets and disc wheels sported by the more elite riders. 

The 25^th running of the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship is filled with memories.  Jerry Casale, who helped found the race with David Chauner, remembers the day a tree fell across the race course just after the riders passed.  With no time to call a tree surgeon, Jerry enlisted the aid of the spectators who all pulled together and moved the massive tree off of the course… just in time for the next lap.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (June 4, 2009) – Philadelphia-based Advanced Sports, Inc. (ASI) owns four bicycles brands. Of those brands, Fuji & Kestrel bikes will be ridden by a total of five professional teams competing at the 25^th Annual TD Bank Philadelphia International Pro Cycling Championships. On the men’s side, Spanish-based team Fuji-Servetto and Austria-based team Elk Haus will be aboard Fuji race bikes. Two women’s teams will also ride Fujis including Germany’s Equipe Nurnberger and New Zealand-based Jazz Apple. U.S.-based men’s team Rock Racing will be aboard ASI’s Kestrel brand bicycles.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (June 4, 2009) – One of the most exciting bicycle teams in the country, Rock Racing, will visit Deptford’s Peddler’s Shop for a meet and greet session and group bike ride, Friday, June 5th starting at 11am.  

Rock Racing, a U.S.-based professional cycling team, is one of the most notable teams competing in Sunday’s Philadelphia International Championship. The team which is sponsored by Philadelphia-based bicycle manufacturer, Kestrel, boasts top rider Freddy Rodriguez who is the former U.S. Professional Champion. “Fast Freddy” is one of the fastest sprinters in the country and will be one of the riders to watch toward the end of the 156-mile race. Other Rock Racing riders include Nic Sanderson, David Vitoria, Jamey Driscoll and David Tanner.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (May 28, 2009) – One of the most elite bicycle teams in the world, Fuji-Servetto, will visit Philadelphia’s Cadence Cycling Foundation (CCF), a non-profit created to introduce competitive cycling to Philadelphia-area youth on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 2pm.

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.