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The Philadelphia Cycling Classic made a triumphant return to the city on Sunday after a 10-year hiatus that had many feeling it would never return.

Top finishers 

With strong fields in both the men’s and women’s competition, Italian cyclist Chiara Consonni finished first in the women’s race, with Alexandra Volstad and Ella Sabo in second and third, respectively. Germany’s Tim Torn Teutenberg won the men’s, finishing ahead of Robert Donaldson in second and Jonas Rutsch in third.  

Olivia Cummins and David Lonzano Riba were crowned Queen and King of the Mountains for performing best in the race’s Mayayunk Wall and Lemon Hill climbs. Lauren Stephen and Killian O’Brien were the champions of the sprint zones in East Falls between Kelly Drive and Midvale Avenue.

Riders in the men’s competition of the 2016 Philadelphia Cycling Classic race down the Ben Franklin Parkway. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)

Local finishers

Local Philadelphians also made a strong showing among the 212 cyclists across both fields, including Fairmount resident Hannah Yeakey, who finished 53rd while racing with the local team KRT QRT Racing Automatic Racing.

Brewerytown resident Kim Stoveld led the women’s race during one breakaway and eventually finished 71st. She said that nothing compares to how those moments at the front felt.

“It felt so incredibly special; it’s such a privilege to be able to race in my hometown,” Stoveld said. “I watched this race … when it was still going on, and I was just getting into cycling. To be on the other side of it 10 years later is just a dream come true. Just absolutely amazing.”

Kim Stoveld poses with her husband John after finishing the 2016 Philadelphia Cycling Classic. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)

Stoveld said she had been making members of her Tuesday night group ride up the grueling Manayunk Wall to help her train for the Classic. After Sunday’s race, she said she was walled out, at least until she starts preparing for next year’s race.  

“Honestly, I was hoping to win. I finished mid-pack,” she lamented. “So, you know what? It’ll come back next year, and hopefully I’ll win.” 

Robin Carpenter, 34, who grew up living half a block from the Manayunk Wall, led the pack for much of the men’s race before finishing 41st. 

“Every time going up the wall was just like hair-raising. I’m getting it right now … just thinking about it,” Carpenter said after the race. “It’s just so loud. Your ears are literally ringing. You can’t hear anything else. On top of that, half of them were straight up calling my name, which is unreal.”

Manayunk-native Robin Carter after the 2016 Philadelphia Cycling Classic(Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)

Carpenter knew exactly where his family was watching him in Manayunk and even stopped for a couple of seconds to say “Hi” to his wife Hannah and their newborn son. He also committed to next year’s Philly Classic, saying he would retire from racing after that.

Old City hair-stylist Carlos Rogers worked for years to bring the race back, along with Race Street Partners Carlos Rogers, Eric Robbins and former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Rogers spent Sunday basking in the fruits of that long grind, getting hugs and congratulations from the people he passed along the race’s 14.4-mile circuit.

“Everybody just loves this event, and you can see it. It gives me goosebumps,” Rogers said.

Race organizer and Old City hair-dresser Carlos Rogers watches the action at the 2016 Philadelphia Cycling Classic. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)

Before the race, Rogers said he might try to crowd surf at the watch party at Lemon Hill to celebrate helping bring the race back after 10 years away. Alas, that didn’t happen.

“I don’t think they’re ready for me to jump over the barricades … but I think [getting out of one of the race cars and] running up Lemon Hill was suitable,” he said. “Everyone was cheering like crazy. They just know how hard it was to bring this race back; they miss the history of the race and they know the passion not only that I put in, but you can feel the passion of the city.”

The race weekend also included a Saturday amateur time trial, a charity ride early Sunday morning to support cancer research and a two-day fan fest near the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Mayor Parker pledges future support 

As the last major sporting event of Philadelphia’s jam-packed semiquincentennial summer, organizers called it the “people’s race,” since it was free for anyone to watch along a course that started and finished on the Ben Franklin Parkway and wound through neighborhoods including Roxborough, Strawberry Mansion and Lemon Hill.

“We have literally brought the stadium to the neighborhood,” said Philadelphia Mayor Parker, who helped start both races with former mayor Nutter.

Through what she described as “ear hustling,” Parker said that she had overheard the cyclists discussing how challenging Philly’s course was.

Cycling fan John Squeri brought his bike from Lansdale, Montgomery County, so he could also ride from one major popular watch spot to the next over the course of the day.  

John Squeri came down from Lansdale, Montgomery County for the 2016 Philadelphia Cycling Classic. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)

Tim Kostolansky and Kai Shing were in the stands next to the start/finish line during the women’s race, both wearing polka-dotted Tour de France clothing.  

“It reminds me a little of the atmosphere during the marathon, with people just out and supporting the racers,” Kostolansky said. “I think it’s absolutely electric and super cool. I want it to come back.

Kai Shing (left) and Tim Kostolansky watch the women’s race of the 2016 Philadelphia Cycling Classic from the Ben Franklin Parkway. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)

Rogers, Robbins and Nutter have been confident about the race returning, and on Sunday they picked up a major backer in that effort.

“As long as I’m the mayor of the city of Philadelphia, we will have this cycling classic every year, and we should never allow it to go away,” Parker said. “It’s iconic, and it has a strong connection to our history. We’ve got to preserve it and keep it going.”