Philadelphia is preparing for the comeback of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, a 14.4‑mile road race set for August 30 that will draw thousands of spectators to the city’s historic streets. The effort to bring the event back is being led by former mayor Michael Nutter and former first lady Lisa Nutter, who say the race is a vital part of the city’s cycling culture.
Family involvement and personal passion
Lisa Nutter, long known as a supporter of cycling, is also a competitive indoor track cyclist. She is a four‑time national champion in track cycling across two age groups. “For me, the competition is in the velodrome,” she explained, noting that as a sprinter her races last only seconds. Michael Nutter said he is “one of his wife’s biggest supporters” and even videos all of her races, sometimes narrating with encouragements like “go baby, go‑head baby, go now!”
Reviving a beloved event
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic originally ran through city streets before ending in 2016 due to a loss of corporate sponsorship. Michael Nutter described the disappearance as “sad, quite honestly.” The revival began when former professional cyclist Carlos Rodgers approached Lisa Nutter with the idea of restarting the race after a ten‑year hiatus. “He wanted me to then connect him to Michael, and he was like, you know, I think this is a good time to reboot the race,” Lisa recalled.
International reach and race format
According to the Nutters, the event will feature teams from ten countries, underscoring its international appeal. Male competitors will complete eight laps of the 14.4‑mile circuit, while female competitors will ride four laps. “It’s a shorter race, which means it’s a faster‑paced race; it is a different race. That doesn’t make it less hard,” Lisa said.
Prize‑money parity
Lisa Nutter previously questioned why male and female riders received different prize amounts, with the men’s purse larger. Michael Nutter noted that during his administration the race became one of the first international events to require “purse pairing,” ensuring equal prize money for men and women.
Personal health benefits
Lisa began cycling after knee injuries from running, saying the sport offers long‑term health benefits. “Something you can do long into life,” she added.
Community impact
The race begins and ends on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a route that many European racers say reminds them of classic European courses. The Nutters view the event as an expression of Philadelphia’s identity, describing the city as “the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection” and emphasizing that the race brings residents close to the athletes.
Lisa Nutter is serving as a co‑chair of the event, and both she and Michael Nutter see the race’s return as an extension of their years of public service to the city.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
