Philadelphia Cycling Classic 2026 Preview: The Manayunk Wall Returns After a Decade
Philadelphia Cycling Classic 2026 marks the race's return after a 10-year hiatus. The 14.4-mile city circuit includes the Manayunk Wall at 17 percent, with equal $75,000 purses for men and women.
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic returns in 2026 after a decade away from the professional calendar. The revived race runs multiple laps of a 14.4-mile circuit through Philadelphia's neighborhoods, climbing from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Kelly Drive up the Manayunk Wall, a 17-percent grade that has been the race's signature obstacle since the 1980s.
This is American city-circuit racing at its most recognizable. The tight urban roads, massive crowds along the barriers, and the Manayunk Wall create a format that rewards positioning, cornering skill, and the ability to produce explosive power after hours of racing on pavement. The race is a free spectator event with live broadcast coverage on 6abc, making it one of the most visible cycling events in the United States.