Sunday marks the 24th edition of the Philadelphia International Championship. Although no longer used to crown the national champion, this grand event of domestic racing boasts the greatest distance and some of the deepest fields in North American cycling. Riders surviving the past week’s racing in Reading and Lehigh will face 156 miles in 10 laps through Philadelphia, including 10 climbs up the famed 17 percent Manayunk Wall. Along with The Wall, the weather will also mount a challenge: forecasters called for a record-breaking high of 96 degrees on Sunday.

Despite Manayunk, the race has traditionally finished in a sprint, as was the case last year with CSC’s J.J Haedo nabbing the top spot. Although Haedo will not be racing on Sunday, there will be plenty of riders looking to define their careers with a win at this, the most prestigious of the one-day domestic events.

In addition to the international field, Philly is also defined by its distance, which is twice as long as the week’s earlier events. This will likely favor European riders accustomed to longer races. With this in mind, look for a good performance from last year’s Triple Crown winner and on-form High Road rider Bernhard Eisel, who has already placed 3rd in Lehigh and 10th in Reading. His sprinting teammate Greg Henderson shouldn’t be ruled out, either.

Liquigas will be looking to set up its sprinter Daniele Bennati, who comes in fresh off the Giro, where he won two stages.

Toyota-United’s roster includes two former Philadelphia winners: Aussie Henk Vogels and the last North American to win outright, Chris Wherry. “We feel like we have a really good line-up for this series,” predicted Toyota-United team director Scott Moninger. “We’re probably a little better suited for these races than the other domestic teams because we have so much speed and one-day racing talent.”


Toyota’s domestic rival Health Net-Maxxis will look to unleash its all-purpose star Rory Sutherland. Currently sitting atop the NRC standings, the Aussie has been on a tear this year, taking overall wins at the Joe Martin and Mt. Hood stage races.

Slipstream-Chipotle’s general manager Jonathan Vaughters views Philly as an “extremely important race for us” and although they’ve been quiet all week, the multi-national squad including Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Bäckstedt will undoubtedly attempt to launch any number of their riders to the finish including this year’s 24 year-old sensation Martijn Maaskant or perhaps fellow classics rider Tyler Farrar.

Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing) knows the course well having taken the stars and stripes jersey three times. Teammate Oscar Sevilla nabbed a solo win in Reading on Thursday and both riders will likely be in the hunt during the late stages of the race.

Showing good form earlier in the week was Jelly Belly’s Brad Huff, who was 5th in Reading and 3rd in Lehigh. The former U.S. criterium champion would be delighted if his sprint took him to a podium in Philadelphia.

Click here for the men’s start list.

After two criteriums, the women will be contesting a proper road race using much of the same course as the men. The women’s 57.6-mile race consists of four laps of a 14.4-mile circuit through Philadelphia that includes four steep climbs up the famed Manayunk Wall.

Few would be willing to bet against High Road’s Ina Teutenberg continuing her domination of the women’s field in Philly. So far this week, the German has gone two-for-two, winning solo in Lehigh and from a 5-rider break in Reading. Amazingly, Teutenberg performed the very same feat at last year’s editions.

Intent on foiling a Teutenberg trifecta will be a host of racers looking to leave the sprinters on the slopes of Manayunk. Top of this list is Cheerwine’s Laura van Gilder who has already placed second and third this week and will be looking to move up a place on the podium on Sunday.

Click here for the women’s start list.

Past Winners

2007 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) CSC
2006 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net-Maxxis
2005 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net-Maxxis

2007 Ina Teutenberg (G) T-Mobile
2006 Regina Schleicher (G) Nuernberger
2005 Ina Teutenberg (G) T-Mobile