2015 Philadelphia Cycling Classic

The 2015 Philadelphia Cycling Classic, known as The Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic for sponsorship purposes, was the sixth round of the 2015 UCI Women's Road World Cup. It was held on 7 June 2015, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The event had last appeared in the Women's Road World Cup in 2001, as the Liberty Classic.

2015 Philadelphia Cycling Classic
2015 UCI Women's Road World Cup, race 6 of 10
Race details
Dates7 June 2015
Stages1
Distance118.26 km (73.48 mi)
Winning time2h 58' 01"
Results
  Winner  Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) (Boels–Dolmans)
  Second  Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) (Wiggle–Honda)
  Third  Alena Amialiusik (BLR) (Velocio–SRAM)
2015 UCI Women's Road World Cup
Races
Round 1   Ronde van Drenthe
Round 2   Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio
Round 3   Tour of Flanders
Round 4   La Flèche Wallonne
Round 5   Tour of Chongming Island
Round 6   The Philadelphia Cycling Classic
Round 7   Sparkassen Giro
Round 8   Crescent Women World Cup Vårgårda TTT
Round 9   Crescent Women World Cup Vårgårda
Round 10   GP de Plouay-Bretagne
Teams and riders
2015 UCI Women's Teams and riders

On a six-lap course which climbed Manayunk Wall, an 800-metre (2,600 ft) long climb with an average gradient of 8 percent, at the end of each lap, Jasmin Glaesser (Optum–KBS) established an early breakaway, leading for two laps before being caught by the peloton. Her breakaway earned her sufficient "Queen of the Mountain" points for her to win that title. Further attacks were made, but none were successful. On the final ascent of Manayunk Wall, Lizzie Armitstead (Boels–Dolmans) won in a sprint, beating Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle–Honda) and Alena Amialiusik (Velocio–SRAM).

Entry

The organisers of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic indicated that they would invite the top twenty ranked UCI teams at the end of 2014, and then any further allocations would be assigned to highly ranked national teams and other UCI teams.[1] A list of seventeen participating teams was published in March, just over 10 weeks prior to the race. Of those teams, Astana-Acca Due O, BePink-La Classica and Cycling Canada did not feature in the race, while further teams were added to feature 96 riders across 19 teams.[2][3]

UCI Teams

Elite teams
  • Colavita-Bianchi p/b Fine Cooking
  • Fearless Femme p/b Haute Wheels Racing
National teams
  • Colombia
  • Mexico

Course

The Philadelphia Cycling Classic follows a six-lap course near the Schuylkill River in northwest Philadelphia. It started and finished at the top of the Manayunk Wall,[4] an 800-metre (2,600 ft) long climb which peaks at a gradient of 17 percent,[5] though it only averages around 8 percent.[6] The course also included climbs up Lemon Hill and Strawberry Mansion Drive.[4] Each of the six laps is 19.71 kilometres (12.25 mi), giving a total race length of 118.26 kilometres (73.48 mi).[7] "Queen of the Mountain" points were awarded for the first rider to the top of Manayunk Wall and Lemon Hill each lap, while an intermediate sprint was located roughly halfway along the outward section of the lap, where Kelly Drive intersects with Midvale Avenue.[8]

Preview
Circuit of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic 2015

After five rounds of the 2015 UCI Women's Road World Cup, there had been five different winners; Jolien D'Hoore at the Ronde van Drenthe,[9] Lizzie Armitstead at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio,[10] Elisa Longo Borghini at the Tour of Flanders,[11] Anna van der Breggen at the La Flèche Wallonne Féminine,[12] and Giorgia Bronzini at the Tour of Chongming Island.[13] Anna van der Breggen led the World Cup standings as the racing moved to Philadelphia, with 290 points, but her Rabo-Liv team had opted not to take part in the event. Annemiek van Vleuten and Jolien D'Hoore, who were second and third in the standings, had not travelled with their teams to the event. Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle–Honda) and Lizzie Armitstead (Boels–Dolmans), who entered the race placed fourth and fifth, were highlighted as possible favourites for the race, though Armitstead's teammate, Evelyn Stevens had won the race in both 2013 and 2014.[4][14]

Race
Lizzie Armitstead won the race in a sprint finish up Manayunk Wall.

There was no significant breakaways during the first lap, but as the riders climbed Lemon Hill on the second of six laps, Jasmin Glaesser (Optum–KBS) established a gap, and maintained the lead of the race for two laps, earning her the Queen of the Mountain award.[15] She was caught during an attack by Alison Jackson (Twenty16 p/b Sho-Air), but the pair could not maintain their advantage, and were caught by the peloton on the climb up Manayunk Wall at the end of the third lap.[16] Team Hitec Products attacked each of the intermediate sprints, with Kirsten Wild providing a lead-out each lap for her teammate Emilie Moberg. They also attempted to make breakaways of their own, and Moberg managed to lead off the front of the peloton for around half a lap before being caught once more by the peloton.[17] The Velocio-SRAM team attacked through the fourth lap, with each of their riders riding off the front in turn, but they failed to establish a breakaway.[16]

Entering the final lap, the peloton remained close, although a number of riders had fallen behind or dropped out, particularly through the cobbled bends at the base of the Manayunk Wall. A series of attacks were made on the final lap; Charlotte Becker (Team Hitec Products) gained an advantage, but it was closed again due to work from the Boels-Dolmans team. Once Becker had been caught, Dalia Muccioli (Alé–Cipollini) made a move, but the Twenty16 p/b Sho-Air team worked to eliminate her lead. A sprint to the bottom of the Manayunk Wall was led by Loren Rowney (Velocio–SRAM), but more riders struggled over the cobblestones and dropped back.[17] Alexis Ryan (UnitedHealthcare) took over the lead of the peloton at the bottom of the hill, and established a fast pace up the lower slopes, leading Joëlle Numainville (Bigla Pro Cycling Team) and her teammate Coryn Rivera. Optum-KBS also had a number of riders near the front, while Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle–Honda) and Lizzie Armitstead (Boels–Dolmans) were just behind. Longo Borghini attacked first, but Armitstead went with her and passed her just before the line to claim victory. Alena Amialiusik (Velocio–SRAM) and Shelley Olds (Bigla Pro Cycling Team) finished in third and fourth; the top four were all classified with the same time.[15]

Results
Result
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) Boels–Dolmans 2h 58' 01"
2  Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) Wiggle–Honda + 0"
3  Alena Amialiusik (BLR) Velocio–SRAM + 0"
4  Shelley Olds (USA) Bigla Pro Cycling Team + 0"
5  Coryn Rivera (USA) UnitedHealthcare + 3"
6  Evelyn Stevens (USA) Boels–Dolmans + 5"
7  Leah Kirchmann (CAN) Optum–KBS + 5"
8  Lex Albrecht (CAN) Optum–KBS + 5"
9  Maria Giulia Confalonieri (ITA) Alé–Cipollini + 5"
10  Brianna Walle (USA) Optum–KBS + 12"
Source: ProCyclingStats[18]

World Cup standings
Individual ranking after 6 of 10 World Cup races
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) Boels–Dolmans 315
2  Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) Wiggle–Honda 296
3  Anna van der Breggen (NED) Rabo–Liv 290
4  Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) Bigla Pro Cycling Team 226
5  Alena Amialiusik (BLR) Velocio–SRAM 225
6  Jolien D'Hoore (BEL) Wiggle–Honda 220
7  Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA) Rabo–Liv 175
8  Shelley Olds (USA) Bigla Pro Cycling Team 140
9  Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) Wiggle–Honda 130
10  Elena Cecchini (ITA) Lotto–Soudal Ladies 122
Source: Union Cycliste Internationale[19]

References
  1. Frattini, Kirsten (27 February 2015). "Philadelphia Cycling Classic to shorten men's and lengthen women's race". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  2. "Philadelphia Cycling Classic announces women's teams for World Cup". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. "Start list" (PDF). Philadelphia International Cycling Classic. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. Weislo, Laura (1 June 2015). "World's best riders tackle Manayunk Wall in first USA World Cup since 2001". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  5. Hymas, Peter (31 May 2013). "Manayunk Wall at the fore of inaugural Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  6. "Iconic Places: Manayunk Wall". VeloNews. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  7. "Results" (PDF). Philadelphia International Cycling Classic. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  8. "Map: Philadelphia Cycling Classic". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  9. "2015 Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe (CDM): Results". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  10. "2015 17th Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio (CDM): Results". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. "2015 12th Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres (WE) (CDM): Results". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  12. "2015 La Flèche Wallonne Féminine (CDM): Results". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  13. "2015 Tour of Chongming Island World Cup (CDM): Results". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  14. "Ranking – Cycling – Road 2015". Union Cycliste Internationale. 17 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  15. Braverman, Jessi (8 June 2015). "Lizzie Armitstead wins Philly Cycling Classic to regain World Cup overall lead". Ella CyclingTips. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  16. "Lizzie Armitstead wins mass dash to take Philly title, World Cup lead". VeloNews.com. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  17. Weislo, Laura (7 June 2015). "Philadelphia World Cup: Armitstead wins ahead of Longo Borghini". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  18. "2015 The Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic: Result". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  19. "Ranking – Cycling – Road 2015". Union Cycliste Internationale. 7 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
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