Evie Stevens (Specialized-lululemon) won the first ever Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic in a tight sprint over Joelle Numainville (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) as the two riders crested the steep Manayunk Wall side by side in a Flèche Wallonne style finish. With the race replacing the old Liberty Classic as the only UCI-ranked women’s race in the United States, Stevens became the very first American to win the Philadelphia, PN race.
Former German champion Claudia Häusler (Tibco-To The Top) - who was crowned the Queen of the Mountains after taking consistently the highest places over the previous climbs of Manayunk - finished third, just a few seconds behind.
The 120km race, which was made up of five laps of a 20km circuit that included the climb of Lemon Hill as well as the Manayunk Wall, was subject to several attacks but none was able to stick. The final lap saw Alison Powers (NOW and Novartis for MS) managed to jump clear alone, with the national championship bronze medalist able to get a lead of 30 seconds, but she was hunted down by the Specialized-lululemon-led peloton shortly before she reached the foot of Manayunk.
The big names were all close to the front but then Stevens and Numainville attacked simultaneously, on opposite sides of the road, with 300 metres to go. The two riders were side by side over the top of the climb, but Stevens kicked again as the line approached and took the victory almost a length clear of the Canadian rider.
Reactions to follow
Result
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon
2. Joelle Numainville (Can) Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
3. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Team Tibco-To The Top
4. Shelley Olds (USA) Team Tibco-To The Top
5. Mara Abbott (USA) Exergy-Twenty16
6. Lex Albrecht (Can) NOW and Novartis for MS
7. Lauren Stephens (USA) FCS Cycling Team
8. Veronique Fortin (Can) Pasta Zara-Cogeas
9. Jade Wilcoxson (USA) Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
10. Mary Zider (USA) Colavita-Fine Cooking