Who Can Win? Riders to Watch as the Philadelphia Cycling Classic Returns Sunday
- Philadelphia Cycling Classic
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Olympic champions, national champions, WorldTour stars and rising talents bring different paths to victory to Philadelphia’s iconic course
PHILADELPHIA (Aug. 25, 2026) — The Philadelphia Cycling Classic presented by AmeriGas® returns this Sunday, Aug. 30, and there is no shortage of ways to win it.
The 14.4-mile course is built to test every kind of rider. The Manayunk Wall's steep pitches can split the field, while the fast run back toward the Benjamin Franklin Parkway can give powerful sprinters a chance to strike.
John Eustice, a pioneering figure in American professional cycling and lead broadcast anchor for the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, has identified several riders whose strengths could make them particularly dangerous on Sunday.
“There isn't one type of rider who can win Philadelphia,” said Eustice. “The strongest climbers can make the selection, but if the sprinters survive, they can still have a chance. That's what makes this race so exciting — you can have a completely different race than you expected.”
Women to Watch
Kristen Faulkner (USA)
EF Education-Oatly
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Faulkner is one of the most accomplished riders in the field and a serious threat to turn the race into a selection. Her power and endurance could make the Manayunk Wall an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
Chiara Consonni (ITA)
Canyon//SRAM
The Olympic track champion brings elite finishing speed to a course that has historically rewarded fast riders. If Consonni can stay with the front group over Philadelphia's climbs, she could be tough to beat on the Parkway.
Maggie Coles-Lyster (CAN)
Human Powered Health
The reigning Canadian road race champion is another major sprint threat. Coles-Lyster has the speed to capitalize if the race comes back together after the climbs.
Marlies Mejias (CUB)
Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
A Pan American Games champion and multiple-time Cuban national champion, Mejias has spent years racing across both road and track disciplines. Her versatility makes her a rider who could thrive as the race changes shape.
Hao Zang (CHN)
XDS China
The reigning Asian Continental Road Champion and former Chinese national champion brings a major international storyline to Philadelphia. The race also marks XDS China's first racing appearance in the West, putting Zang in position to introduce a new team, and herself, to an American audience.
Men to Watch
Quinn Simmons (USA)
Lidl-Trek
The reigning U.S. Road Race National Champion arrives in the Stars and Stripes jersey after racing the Tour de France this summer. An aggressive racer with the power to attack, Simmons could have a chance to race for himself in Philadelphia rather than spend the day working for a teammate.
Derek Gee (CAN)
Lidl-Trek
Gee has established himself as one of the peloton's most versatile riders, combining climbing ability with a fast finish. That combination could be particularly valuable on a course where surviving the Wall is only half the battle.
Luke Lamperti (USA)
EF Education - EasyPost
One of the fastest young Americans in the WorldTour, Lamperti arrives as a recent Paris-Nice stage winner. Eustice counts him among the riders with a real chance to win, particularly if the strongest sprinters make it through the late climbs.
Riley Sheehan (USA)
NSN Cycling Team
With three international victories already this season, Sheehan is emerging as one of America's most promising riders racing in Europe. His combination of strength and speed gives him options whether the race is decided by a breakaway or a reduced sprint.
Tim Torn Teutenberg (GER)
Lidl-Trek
A world champion on the track and a fast finisher on the road, Teutenberg also brings a special Philadelphia connection. His aunt, four-time women's Philadelphia Cycling Classic winner Ina Yoko Teutenberg, helped make her mark on the race decades ago. Now it's his turn to race the same streets.
Ben Oliver (NZL)
Modern Adventure Pro Cycling
Oliver's route to the top has been unconventional: the New Zealander worked as a beekeeper and took on other jobs while pursuing cycling before breaking through in the United States and Europe. A recent Tour de Wallonie winner, he arrives in Philadelphia as one of the field's most intriguing dark horses.
Sunday's women's race begins at 8:35 a.m., with the men's race starting at 12 p.m. Both races start and finish on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Fans nationwide and internationally can watch 6abc’s exclusive stream of the entire Philadelphia Cycling Classic on 6abc.com, 6abc’s YouTube channel, Hulu, Disney+, and everywhere you stream 6abc. And locally, fans can watch updates on the races on Action News Sunday morning, special updates throughout the day, and a Philadelphia Cycling Classic Special at 5:30 p.m. on 6abc.
For more information, visit philadelphiacyclingclassic.com.
About Philadelphia Cycling Classic Presented by AmeriGas®
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is a premier cycling event that first debuted in 1985 and quickly grew into one of the most prestigious, professional road races for an international peloton in North America. In 2026, the Classic returns with AmeriGas® as title sponsor, supporting the relaunch of this iconic Philadelphia tradition, bringing together elite athletes and passionate fans from around the globe to celebrate the spirit of competition and community. The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is owned by Race Street Partners, composed of Carlos Rogers, Eric M. Robbins, and Michael A. Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia.
