Bike race decision is down to nailbiting finish

The 25th annual professional bicycle race in Philadelphia is less than 6 weeks away and organizers still do not know if the race is on or off.

The 25th annual professional bicycle race in Philadelphia is less than 6 weeks away and organizers still do not know if the race is on or off. But today one of the country’s most prominent 1-day races may have found a helping hand.

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About 80,000 dollars in tickets have already been sold, and according to race organizers Governor Rendell himself bought 50 thousand dollars of tickets on behalf of state employees. But that’s a fraction of the 1/2 million dollars needed.

He’s not saying who it is yet, but race founder Dave Chauner says he has been talking with a new potential sponsor who could go a long way toward the finish line.

Chauner: We anticipate we’ll be able to close the remaining gap with ticket sales and other smaller sponsors on the fence waiting to see if a major sponsor can close most of the gap.

Chauner says Mayor Nutter has been supportive of the race, but has made it clear that the city is not in a position to offer free street services as it has in the past.