Six figure backing gets ball rolling on replacement for Philadelphia International Cycling Classic
Just over two weeks after the 2013 Philadelphia International Cycling Classic was cancelled due to a lack of funds, the first sponsor for a replacement event to take place this year has been secured.
New Penn Financial has been announced as a new backer for the renamed Philly Cycling Classic. A specific value for the sponsorship was not revealed for New Penn Financial, but Philly.com has reported that it is a six figure amount.
The new race will be organised by the U.S. Rep. Bob Brady. It is believed likely that the Philly Cycling Classic will announce a title sponsor in the next week.
Speaking in the aftermath of the news that the original race would be cancelled, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter pledged that the event would return in 2014.
“While we are all greatly disappointed by the cancellation of the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship this year owing to the organizer’s inability to secure a title sponsor, I want all who are devoted to cycling to know that we are committed to working with the very best promoters to develop a complete event in 2014 that will re-establish our city as a world-class cycling destination,” he said then.
“In 2014, we will be back with a premier international, professional cycling race, but we’ll also be honouring the importance of the bicycle as a major form of transportation in the 21st Century.”
However that timescale has been moved forward by a year, meaning that the new Philly Cycling Classic will go ahead this season.
Details are scare at present but more information is expected soon.
Last year's men's event at the Philadelphia International was won by Team Type 1's Alexander Serebryakov, while the women's Liberty Classic was taken by Specialized Lululemon's Ina-Yoko Teutenberg [pictured].