The Philly bike race is back!

Cycling Enthusiasts Rejoice! After a decade hiatus, Philadelphia’s iconic bike race returns to the hills of Manayunk on August 30th. Known for two decades as the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, the race kicked off in 1985 and became infamous for the steep, 17% grade “Manayunk Wall,” which drew competitors from around the globe as a warm up to the Tour de France.

But as corporate sponsorship interest dwindled and security costs increased, the organizers ceased operations after the 2016 race. That didn’t sit well with Carlos Rogers. The amateur cyclist and hair salon owner had an against-all-odds dream to revive the event and has now brought The Philadelphia Cycling Classic back to life through sheer will.  Along the way, Rogers connected with a few key partners, including former Philadelphia Michael Nutter.

On this episode of Studio 2, ahead of the 2026 race, we unpack the significance of the return of the classic and unpack the behind-the-scenes story of how it happened, LIVE from Love City Brewing’s Manayunk location.

Guests:

• Carlos Rogers, co-owner of The Philadelphia Cycling Classic and co-owner of Hush Salon
• Michael Nutter, former Philadelphia Mayor, and co-owner of The Philadelphia Cycling Classic
• Freddie Rodriguez, former pro cyclist who won the Classic in 2001 and 6ABC.com color commentator
• Eric Heiden, Olympic gold medalist, and winner of the inaugural Philadelphia Cycling Classic
• Emilia Crotty, Southeast Regional Director with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, a founding organization of the Circuit Trails Coalition.