Manayunk Wall ready for return of Philadelphia Cycling Classic
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The countdown is on for the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.
The race is back in the city for the first time in nearly a decade and will bring professional cyclists to a course that winds through Philadelphia and features the iconic Manayunk Wall climb.
For Susan Schaefer, the event's return is more than a trip down memory lane.
"They knew that Philadelphia needed a point of interest for the circuit, and these were predominantly European riders," Schaefer said of the Manayunk Wall.
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Schaefer played a key role in promoting the race in its early years and convincing local residents to embrace the event.
"To open up Manayunk, which was considered a hard-drinking little community, to the concept of being closed off for this classic bike race, which had never been done in the United States before," she said.
Her efforts paid off.
"A lot has changed since that clip in 1989," Schaefer said. "But the Manayunk Wall remains the same. It's 250 feet almost straight up in less than a half-mile. The riders this year will have to tackle it eight times."
The 14.4-mile circuit begins at Logan Square before heading onto Kelly Drive and through Manayunk, where riders take on the Wall. The route then returns to Kelly Drive and continues through Lemon Hill before repeating the loop.
The men's race will feature eight full circuits plus three smaller loops through Lemon Hill, totaling 120 miles.
The women's race includes four full circuits and two additional Lemon Hill loops for a total of 62 miles.
"I want them to see the beauty of the city," Schaefer said. "Think about the optics when we come along Kelly Drive, our Parkway, our Schuylkill River. It's gorgeous."
6abc is the exclusive broadcast partner for the event and will provide live coverage beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 30 on 6abc and its streaming platforms.
