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Philadelphia International Championship and Liberty Classic Preview

12957181_n00_tiny by Sui Juris on in Domestic Racing

And thus we approach the end of another Philly Week.  Tomorrow will see an impressive array of domestic and international pros on the streets of Philadelphia.  Oh, and there will be a couple of bike races, too.  The Liberty Classic is the last race in Philly Week for the pro women and the last race for the men is known as the Philadelphia International Championship.



Philadelphia__2008_map_medium

The Men's Pro Race

The men will race on a 14.4-mile circuit along the Schuykill River for ten laps.  That means 10 climbs up the Manayunk Wall, which reaches grades of 17%. They will then finish with three smaller laps around Lemon Hill and Logan Circle, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (those of you who enjoy yelling "Sella!" will be inspired with another name here, I am sure).  This brings us a total of 156 miles of racing.  It'll bring successful racers the glory of a Philly Week win and a piece of the $55,250 purse.  The start is listed for 9am, and the race is expected to finish somewhere around 2:30pm.  Men's start list is here .

The Women's Pro Race

The pro women will race four laps of the same 14.4 mile circuit that the men do.  Starting at 9:10am, they'll push hard until 11:30 or so for a total of 57.6 mles.  The women's purse is $25,000.  Women's start list is here.

Factors on the Course

The course is a relatively flat and fast circuit with one serious bump in the middle - that Manayunk Wall.  And really, it's just a bump - not even a 250 foot elevation gain.  Except that elevation gain happens in a lot less feet than you'd like, if you were riding it.   The Wall isn't so much an opportunity for climbers (again, it's a very short part of the course) as a weapon for riders who are feeling strong to use against those that are with them, bludgeoning their competitors with it on each lap until they pop.

The finishing lap has a small, short, and much kinder climb up Lemon Hill, which may also act as a filter for those who are on the edge of blowing up near the end of the race.  More likely, however, it'll just serve as an extra annoyance to those bigger riders who are ready to be done by that point in the day (hi, Maggie!). 

One of the most significant factors on the course is going to be the weather - we're looking at sunny and an expected high of 97°F (that's 36°C for the rest of the world).  I don't want to hear any of that "Oh, that'll be hard for the Europeans" crap - that'll be miserable for everybody. 

How to Watch

No clear line on whether it'll be available as a live stream anywhere.  Will update if I find anything.

Who To Watch

Go ahead, tell us.  I'll check back in with my thoughts.  But first I need to get to Philly.

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So, would those then be called...

Muur du Manayunk and the Lemonberg?

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 7, 2008 12:43 PM EDT   0 recs

Eisel in a break away

He’ll be keen to make something of this week for himself after winning last year and coming up short so far and he’s due.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jun 7, 2008 12:43 PM EDT   0 recs

To clarify

After winning the series last year.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jun 7, 2008 12:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It's hot in Kensington today.

Where did the spring go?

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on Jun 7, 2008 1:11 PM EDT   0 recs

Is that a haiku?

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 7, 2008 3:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Rollin and Teutenberg to win

yeah like other predictions were so on the mark…NOT that I have to try it again.

by lyne on Jun 7, 2008 5:03 PM EDT   0 recs

I'm thinking Rory

is going to there fighting it out. Along with Brad Huff for a podium spot. I think Slipstream’s also going to be pretty active. The heat is going to play a big part though. Huge efforts earlier on will no doubt increase a DNF list. Maybe Slipstream will pull out the ice jackets to stay cool up to start time. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jun 7, 2008 6:06 PM EDT   0 recs

benna is riding, right?

hard to bet against the guy, even with the jetlag.

i can’t believe rollin won’t find his way into the top five somehow. it would uber-uber-sweet if he won it. uber.

ina to win the womens’ race? hasn’t she won it like a thousand times already? it’s hard to think of a better pick, in my view. damn, that girl is fast.

and, go slipstream! go vanderkitties!

by gavia on Jun 7, 2008 6:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Ina has been on every winning team but one since her first race in 96

my money is on her to repeat. It would be the first time ever, that a cyclist – male or female – does the hat trick twice. LA did it in 93 and won $1 million, Ina did it last year and won a car. And Petra Rosser who won the Liberty Classic 7-times is the High Road DS. So yeah, my money is on Ina.

I think that the winner of the men’s race will be a surprise and that the heat will impact the race. But I would still love to see Rollin on the top step.

by lyne on Jun 7, 2008 7:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ja, Ina is silly strong

Too bad the womens’ race isn’t longer – it would be more interesting that way. 56 mi isn’t much. Oenone Wood wouldn’t be a bad pick if Ina can somehow be put in a box. Or, Regina Schleicher who almost took it last year. Me, I’d love to see someone new – Kat Carroll or Brooke Miller, say.

Matti Breschel from CSC wouldn’t be a bad pick to win, if he could handle the heat. Actually, either Matthew from CSC ;-)

East Coast heat is hard. So humid and yucky.

by gavia on Jun 7, 2008 7:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yep, agreed that they should make the women's race longer

Yeah, in my preview I also mentioned Kat Carroll. Shelley Olds of Proman is another interesting rider to watch. Brooke Miller and Jo Kiesanowski are a dangerous duo for Tibco, and Kiesanowski was on form at Hood. But Ina is just so damned strong.

The men’s startlist is a who’s who of sprinters. I think it really depends on how they handle the heat & humidity. So maybe guys that actually like it will do well. Or maybe this is another year that a break of tough men manages to make it til the end. Count on Team Type 1 to be aggressive as Ed Beamon’s Navigators team was always very aggressive in the past.

Still haven’t been able to find a live stream tho. bummer.

by lyne on Jun 7, 2008 8:13 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I have been looking all over for coverage

I have not found anything other than WPVI Channel 6 -ABC providing live TV coverage for the locals in Philly. I was checking for audio coverage too. Too bad we dont have that nice coverage from the other day. 

.

by roadside on Jun 7, 2008 9:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

olds

Olds is a great pick, killer turn of speed.

In the heat, Aussie Matt Goss might go well – he was second behind Haedo last year and has a mean little sprint. I like Breschel, but I’m not sure how he will do with heat – it worked okay for him at Paris-Roubaix last year, anyway.

can’t wait – i always like this race, though i’m not sure i’ll be around to catch it live.

by gavia on Jun 7, 2008 9:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

btw...

is the womens’ high road subject to the same testing as the men? just curious. my understanding is yes, but i was wondering if you knew for sure…

by gavia on Jun 7, 2008 9:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yay!

too bad i picked goss in celestin’s picking game instead of breschel. man, sometimes i hate csc. for every race, they send at least two guys who might win. and nearly every time, i pick the wrong one…

lol, yay for breschel, though, i like that kid. supah fast. used to be a model before he was a bike racer, too. but so not as hot as benna.

by gavia on Jun 8, 2008 6:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I always forget about Breschel, don't know why

model? yeah not bad, but again you are correct.. no bennati

Missed my winner’s prediction again.
Rollin finished 8th – top Canadian and probably sealed his invite to the Olympics. As expected, Beamon’s TT1 was aggressive.

by lyne on Jun 8, 2008 7:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

8th is good, oly is even better

Yay for Rollin! That’s pretty sweet. Breschel’s young and hasn’t raced a ton – he had a gnarl injury two seasons ago after colliding with Robbie Mac in a sprint. l’ouch. Top ten at Paris-Roubaix last year, though, and a very quick little sprint.

Funny to see Miguel Martinez racing road again.

by gavia on Jun 8, 2008 8:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

lol

there can never be too many pics of benna ;-)

by gavia on Jun 8, 2008 9:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Can I join the McSprinty worship? Yowza.

If suffer we must, let's suffer on the heights. -Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), 'Les Malheureux'

by Ruthann on Jun 9, 2008 9:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

totally!

there is room for all in the benna worshipping league.

so hotty. :-O~..........

by gavia on Jun 9, 2008 10:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Gotta lose Ina before the sprint

I hope someone other than Ina wins it. It’s getting a little boring watching her bridge up to the break, then drop it. It looks like the other girls have all the right ideas, Ina’s just a diesel.

by NorCal on Jun 7, 2008 6:46 PM EDT   0 recs

Live coverage doesn't look good

The two race press staffers I talked to had no idea either way (!!!), and the WPVI workers down on the course didn’t think they’d be streaming (but pointed out that they were just guessing). Sorry all – a real shame, I think. WPVI gets props for an entire hour of race and bike related coverage today, though. Makes me want to slap the station managers in DC.

Listened in a bunch of euro-team guys in the lobby bar today – Dominguez on their lips in a serious way. (Funny, I suspect Benna is on the lips of the . . . oh, wait. I forgot my audience. I should probably stop right there).

Very cool atmosphere, even if it shuts down a bit early when all the boys and girls have to get to bed. Saw one of our local MABRA region announcers and found out that he’s announcing Manayunk hill this year, and he reminded me that the downhill right after the top will see some serious action. He expects the race to blow apart around the 8th lap, when the second-tier pro teams get separated from the big guys in a big way.

(Apologies for the late and thin update. Real life interfered unexpectedly. All set for tomorrow, though.)

by Sui Juris on Jun 8, 2008 12:14 AM EDT   0 recs

You are so funny. :-)

Thanks for the updates!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jun 8, 2008 12:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

oooh Ivan's form is a bit of an unknown as he took a break to have a baby (well his wife did)

interesting that they were talking about him though, the riders typically know who’s on form or not. Dominguez does like it when it’s warm.

by lyne on Jun 8, 2008 12:58 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

View from PodiumCafe's Philadelphia Offices

Riders will be circle around Logan Circle, and heading out past the Philadelphia Museum of Art (top right)

by Sui Juris on Jun 8, 2008 12:29 AM EDT   0 recs

LOL!!! Poor Jimbo... :-P

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jun 8, 2008 12:52 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Awesome

Thanks dude.

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 8, 2008 9:40 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Get a shot of Liz Hatch

sitting on one of those and I’ll send you a pair of these

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 8, 2008 9:52 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

what's that saeco

cannondale doing in there?

by R Mc on Jun 8, 2008 11:08 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey!

That’s my rain bike!

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jun 9, 2008 5:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh, and Ruthann's post about SAAB

reminds me of something I’d known, but hadn’t thought to post – Rock Racing has also signed on as a sponsor of tomorrow’s race. And there wasn’t even a lawsuit involved!

by Sui Juris on Jun 8, 2008 12:35 AM EDT   0 recs

Trojans?

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 1:54 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

sorry

just sold my last pack.

by Sui Juris on Jun 8, 2008 7:37 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Local television coverage

Cut and pasted from the race site:

Live coverage begins in Action News, Sunday morning. Watch the race start on Action News at 9am (runs ‘til 10:30am). WPVI then comes on wall to wall from 11:30 to noon. Watch coverage on Action News at noon, and back at 1pm until the end of race a little after 3pm

But really, if you’re within signal range, why aren’t you here?

by Sui Juris on Jun 8, 2008 7:57 AM EDT   0 recs

Live stream?

This link seems to imply a stream…

“Plus, you can watch the portions of both races right here on 6abc.com beginning at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.”

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6192140

by spaley on Jun 8, 2008 9:10 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oscar Sevilla says over at CN today

“Philadelphia is a race that is very famous over in Europe. It is on TV. ”
Hmm wonder where

by roadside on Jun 8, 2008 10:04 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Are you seeing the women's race too?

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:17 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ohhhh... the men's race is on the same route at the same time...

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:18 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Live feed

They’re showing the last lap of the women’s race. I’m watching it right now.

by Bobke Strut on Jun 8, 2008 11:19 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Mark - Close-up Pictures of Benna - Pretty Please!

BTW – at which hotel did you stay ?

by roadside on Jun 8, 2008 8:14 AM EDT   0 recs

Live stream here...

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/livemedia?section=weather&id=5816143 ... looks like it only works in IE though. Coverage of the women’s race?

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:12 AM EDT   0 recs

Safari

Huh…I’m watching it just fine in Safari.

by Bobke Strut on Jun 8, 2008 11:27 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

None of them are working

for me. And I feel a strong urge to blame Cycling tv for some reason

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 8, 2008 11:29 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

mine loaded the sound, but no video

maybe just too much traffic / luck of the draw

by JFS_PGH on Jun 8, 2008 11:49 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

note to CTV

yeah, I’d probably pay a bit extra for some women’s cycling, and you’d probably get the rights way cheap.

by JFS_PGH on Jun 8, 2008 11:23 AM EDT   0 recs

P.a.i.n.f.u.l.l. commentary...

... sounds like these guys when to the WWF school of television commentary.

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:23 AM EDT   0 recs

right--a flat is like the sole falling off your shoe

in a marathon. And we know that happens WAAAAY more often than a flat, right?

by JFS_PGH on Jun 8, 2008 11:24 AM EDT   0 recs

Team HighRoad is ANNHILATING the field....

... up the Manayunk… Armstrong dropping out the back.

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:24 AM EDT   0 recs

Where's Chris with his H-bomb graphic...

... for Kristin Armstrong

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:25 AM EDT   0 recs

Teutenberg in the break up front...

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:27 AM EDT   0 recs

i was planting corn in state college area yesterday

95 degrees, some cloud cover, and that was pretty brutal just being out there. This is even warmer, and sunny, and humid. Truly miserable.

by JFS_PGH on Jun 8, 2008 11:27 AM EDT   0 recs

Did you use...

.... a Cannondale Six to play the corn?

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:28 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Grr... "plant" the corn.

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:28 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Which Penn State farmer

rides the Cannondale System Six?

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 8, 2008 11:30 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

sounds like they are killing the web feed

and going to T.V., but that break looks like a done deal anyway (?)...

by JFS_PGH on Jun 8, 2008 11:30 AM EDT   0 recs

No... looks like it's back...

... they must have the intern working in the truck.

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:31 AM EDT   0 recs

John Eustice to provide commentary!!!!!!

Oscar Sevilla better watch his back.

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:31 AM EDT   0 recs

I think Eustice

would like to be watching Oscars back…

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 8, 2008 11:33 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

and his rippling muscular thighs....

... washboard stomach… and pretty baby face… such a … a strong.. European champion…

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:35 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Feed working now

The weather man has a thermometer

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 8, 2008 11:34 AM EDT   0 recs

No... no he said he isn't a professional meteorologist...

... he’s just an idiot with some mercury.

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:35 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Gap is 10 seconds... women's race

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:36 AM EDT   0 recs

Beltman off the front

wave at the peloton going the other way

Which Italian Pro Tour Team rides the Cannondale SystemSix?

by Jimbo... on Jun 8, 2008 11:37 AM EDT   0 recs

women's race

break is now 7 people, and Beltman out in front of that, about 3 miles to go

by JFS_PGH on Jun 8, 2008 11:37 AM EDT   0 recs

I think less...

... Frothing John Eustice said one or one and a half mile to go…

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:39 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Eustice: "Beltman has a beautiful style on the bike...

... just like Danny Pate… long and lean… “

You can’t make this stuff up…

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:38 AM EDT   0 recs

Hey... that's the fountain...

... in the view from the PdC Philly office mentioned above :)

Stuart O’Grady, the Australian quintiplegic, was seen still climbing to the finish line… using his lips alone.

by crashdan on Jun 8, 2008 11:42 AM EDT