Dust off those bikes — a popular sporting event is gearing up to make a return to Philadelphia this weekend. The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is set to take place on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. During a press conference in September, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Former Mayor Michael Nutter a nd other city officials announced the return of the event after a decade. The race will spotlight Philadelphia landmarks, including the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Kelly Drive, the legendary Manayunk Wall, Strawberry Mansion, Lemon Hill, and Boathouse Row. Officials said the event is sanctioned by both USA Cycling and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). It will be one of just two UCI-sanctioned, one-day road races at the 1.1 category in the U.S. in 2026 and offers equal prizes, a total of $75,000 each, for the women’s and men’s races. The pro women’s and men’s races will start and finish on the Parkway, according to organizers. The women’s race will total about 62 miles on the 14.4-mile circuit, with the men’s race totaling about 120 miles.  The beloved event hadn’t been held since 2016. City officials said at the time it was because of a lack of sponsorship and rising security costs. Dating back to the 1980s, the race typically draws thousands of spectators and is remembered as the event where cyclists ride up a grueling uphill section in Manayunk, known as “The Wall.” Take a look at a full guide to the event below: 2026 Philadelphia Cycling Classic Schedule Philadelphia Cycling Classic Amateur Time Trial Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 | 9 a.m.  Register to participate in the 8-mile individual time trial. The trial is sanctioned by USA Cycling and is part of the New Jersey Time Trial Cup Series.  This 8-mile out and back course follows Martin Luther King Jr. Drive with a turnaround at the Falls Bridge. The Philadelphia Cycling Classic Charity Ride for AACR Sunday, August 30, 2026 | 6:30 a.m.  Fans get the chance to ride a loop of the race course. The event will raise money for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). You can register for the event here. Fan Festival Saturday, Aug. 29 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Sunday, Aug. 30 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Iroquois Sculpture area   The Philadelphia Cycling Classic Fan Fest is a free two-day event featuring more than 150 vendors, live music, games, mini-bike courses, bike demos, food, drinks and cycling apparel. The Races The Women’s UCI 1.1 race begins at 8:30 a.m. with the award ceremony taking place at 1 p.m.  The Men’s UCI 1.1 race begins at 12 p.m. with the ward ceremony taking place at 5:30 p.m.  The race begins on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, follows the Schuylkill River, and passes through Fairmount Park. The course then enters Manayunk as the cyclists will travel through Main Street before turning onto the Manayunk Wall. The riders will then enter Roxborough before going back down Kelly Drive, through Strawberry Mansion, Lemon Hill and directly across from Boathouse Row. Finally, the 14.4-mile loop brings competitors back to the start and finish line on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. 2026 Philadelphia Cycling Classic Road closures Thursday, Aug. 27 The inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street to Binswanger Triangle closed on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 9 a.m. The closures will remain in effect through Sunday, Aug. 30 at 10 p.m. The outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will reopen on Friday, Aug. 28 at 6 a.m. and will remain open until the full Parkway closure begins. The inbound lane between Eakins Oval and 22nd Street will remain closed.  Saturday, Aug. 29 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will be closed from Eakins Oval to Falls Bridge on Saturday, Aug. 29, beginning at 8 a.m. for the 8-mile Philadelphia Cycling Classic Amateur Time Trial. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will continue with its weekend closure schedule and remain closed to vehicle traffic until Monday, Sept. 1. Sedgley Drive between Girard Avenue and Poplar Drive will be closed on Saturday. Aug. 29, beginning at 12 p.m. and will remain closed until the conclusion of the event.  Sunday, Aug. 30 All closures listed below are in effect from approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30, to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30, unless otherwise noted: Parkway area closures Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 17th Street to Eakins Oval (all lanes)   Eakins Oval (all lanes)   I-676 Off-Ramp at 22nd Street  I-676 On-Ramp at 22nd Street  I-76 eastbound Off-Ramp at Spring Garden Street  Spring Garden Tunnel  Rear of Art Museum – Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive (access maintained for PMA staff)  1900 Race Street   1800-1900 Vine Street   Park Towne Place between 22nd Street and 24th Street   2000-2100 Winter Street   Spring Garden Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and 31st Street   All roads from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street, 18th Street to 22nd Street (local access maintained for residents)   All roads from Arch Street to Fairmount Avenue, 22nd Street to Corinthian Street (local access maintained for residents)   23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Eakins Oval  22nd Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue  21st Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue   20th Street between Arch Street and Pennsylvania Avenue  19th Street between Callowhill Street and Cherry Street  16th,17th, and 18th Streets, between Arch Street and Spring Garden Street will be closed only if conditions warrant in the interest of public safety   1600-1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed only if conditions warrant in the interest of public safety  Fairmount Park closures Kelly Drive (all lanes)  Waterworks Drive  Reservoir Drive  Lemon Hill  Sedgley Drive between Girard Avenue and Kelly Drive  Poplar Drive between Girard Avenue and Kelly Drive  MLK Drive from Falls Bridge to Eakins Oval  Manayunk and Roxborough area closures Ridge Avenue between Kelly Drive and Hermit Street  Main Street between Ridge Avenue and Green Lane  Levering Street between Main Street and Tower Street  Cresson Street between Levering Street and Cotton Street  Lyceum Avenue between Tower Street and Mitchell Street  Pechin Street between Green Lane and Roxborough Avenue  Roxborough Avenue between Mitchell Street and Terrace Street  Manayunk Ave between Roxborough Avenue and Osborn Street  Rector Street between Terrace Street and Pechin Street Pensdale Street between Terrace Street and Lauriston Street Kingsley Street between Manayunk Avenue and Lauriston Street Salaignac Street between Manyunk Avenue and Lauriston Street Terrace Street between Dawson Street and Ridge Avenue Vassar Street from Ridge Avenue to Cresson Street Mitchell Street from Connaroe Street to Martin Street Additional streets include: Unit blocks of Shurs Lane, Jamestown Street, Pensdale Street, Roxborough Avenue, Grape Street, Levering Street, Gay Street, Connaroe Street, Carson Street, Rector Street, Cotton Street, Connaroe Street, and 300 block of Burnside Street No Parking Zones During the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, the following blocks will be in the “No Parking Zone”, and all vehicles must be relocated beginning 8 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28. Any vehicles remaining on site during this time will be towed:  Lyceum/Levering Avenue from Cresson Street to Pechin Street  Manayunk Avenue from Ridge Avenue to Roxborough Avenue  Pechin Street from Lyceum Avenue to Roxborough Avenue  Roxborough Avenue from Pechin Street to Manayunk Avenue  All vehicles must be relocated from the full race course beginning at 3 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30. Any vehicles remaining on site during this time will be towed. Public Transportation Due to race-related street closures, SEPTA Routes 7, 9, 27, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48, 49, 52, 60, 61, 65, 82, 124/125, K  will be detoured from its normal routes through Kelly Drive, Manayunk and Roxborough area beginning at 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 30. Specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org. SEPTA travel tips The Ben Franklin Parkway is best accessed from the 15th Street Market-Frankford Line (L) Station and Race-Vine or City Hall Broad Street (B) Line Station.  Those traveling on Regional Rail will want to exit at Suburban Station.  If you’re taking PATCO into Philadelphia from New Jersey, riders can take the B to travel to the race. Exit PATCO at 12th-13th Street Station. Head north on S 13th Street toward St. James Street, then left onto Walnut Street. SEPTA’s Walnut-Locust Station is on the corner of Broad Walnut streets.  Visit the Fares section for fare and SEPTA Key information   Download the SEPTA App for iPhone and Android devices. Visit the Google Play or Apple App Store and look for the official SEPTA App.   View alerts, advisories and detours across the system. To get the latest service news, call Customer Service at 215-580-7800 or follow SEPTA @SEPTA.  Spectators are encouraged to use public transportation when attending the event. The best way to get to the race is to take Septa, ride your bike, or walk. There will be no parking provided. On race day, riders can also take PHLASH buses to Stop 9, FIFA Fan Festival™ on the PHLASH Downtown Loop. Located at Pennsylvania Avenue and Fairmount Avenue, the FIFA Fan Festival™ Stop is located 0.4 miles from the entrance to Philadelphia’s FIFA Fan Festival™ at Lemon Hill. To get the latest service news, call Customer Service at 215-580-7800 or follow SEPTA @SEPTA. ...read more read less