The Race That Changed American Cycling Returns to Philadelphia

On June 23, 1985, when five-time Olympic Speedskating Champion Eric Heiden burst across the finish line as victor of the inaugural Philadelphia Cycling Championship, crowds on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway exploded into wild cheers mixed with astonishment and delight: it was clear to all that a true classic sporting event had been born.

Heiden’s win, by a man of his world-renowned stature, immediately cemented the race as an important and prestigious event in the minds of the Philadelphia public, with the grandeur of the World Championship-style racecourse and extraordinary quality of its live television coverage – captivating the fourth largest American media market – creating a strong reputation for the race throughout the international cycling community.

As far as cycling debuts go, that one’s never been surpassed.

The race leapt from strength to strength with the old mill town of Manayunk, site of its infamous “Wall,” the race-defining, mile-long, seemingly vertical climb, becoming the go-to party scene of the entire day. Manayunk’s fortunes rose right along with those of the race, and the entertainment hotspot, now full of restaurants and boutique shops, widely credits the Philadelphia Cycling Classic for shining the spotlight that stimulated their decades of incredible growth.

While the race may have had a European flavor to it, its design and production were the fruit

of an old and deep cycling knowledge that extended back to the late 19^th century and the 40-year period when indoor American cycling (six-day races anchored in Madison Square Garden) was the richest sport in the world. The Philadelphia repository of that racing knowledge, the one that kept the racing flame burning through all those quiet years, was the Casale family of Chestnut Hill and their iconic Hill Cycling Shop.

Hill Cycle was an astonishing place, chock full of the very finest Italian racing products, from bicycles to shoes and clothing, with special patent leather helmets from Denmark and British cold weather gear all adding to the international flair of the place. Champions and top racers were constantly passing through to pay their respects, offering advice to the string of young champions mentored by the Casales. It was out of this Hill Cycle community that the seeds of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic were planted, ones that quickly sprouted into the great race of today.

The spirit of the shop is, to this day, imbued in the race. Event founder Dave Chauner was an Olympian based out of Hill Cycle; American racing superstar Jackie Simes, whose father and grandfather were both racing professionals, was very close with the Casale family and was a major influence with the founding and direction of the event. Countless volunteers, racers and technical staff had their own Hill Cycle connections, and most of all, the impact of the effervescent personality of Jerry Casale Jr., who became the main face of the race for the all-important city services, giving the race its true Philadelphia character.

The secret to any successful special event, whether a bicycle race, parade or marathon, is to have excellent working relationships with police, sanitation and the other city services that are crucial for the event to go forward. Jerry Casale Jr. had the Philadelphia city infrastructure completely charmed – by his complete competence most of all – and the race always ran as a clockwork-like example of civic perfection. The importance of these city relationships cannot be overemphasized, and the brilliance of Jerry’s influence is a major reason that Philadelphia feels such an intense sense of ownership of the race, even today.

A defining characteristic of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic was its status as cornerstone of the fast-developing American racing circuit. Its race organizers, while adhering to the rules and regulations of the international governing body (UCI), had little interest in becoming an extension of the European system. Rather, they believed whole heartedly in the potential of a professional American circuit able to rival that of Europe. It had been done before; they were going to do it again. An entire generation of racers, team directors, promotors and media figures bought into the concept, and, with the Philadelphia Cycling Classic as a shining showcase, the development of American cycling exploded into a 25-year-long golden era.

The primacy, and effects, of the Tour de France over American cycling interests during the past years would put the dream of a domestic circuit on hold, but with the rebirth of Philadelphia’s great race, now presented by AmeriGas, a vibrant new American racing scene suddenly seems possible.

The founding in 1985 of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic was directly responsible for massively improving the fortunes and stature of American cycling, inspiring great new events and giving our champion racers a true showcase for their talents, all in front of home audiences. The re-birth of the race – back to its original concept of being anchored around a world-class television production with 6abc, combined with the majesty and scale of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with Manayunk already gearing up for what is certain to be the most raucous “welcome-back-we-missed-you” reception imaginable, and Philly bike culture scoping out their spots on Lemon Hill – will be celebrated not only by the fans in Philadelphia, but by the entire cycling world.

American cycling is back with Philadelphia in its rightful place as the center of that developing new world, a position that the city is most comfortable with.