Philadelphia is a city that is renowned for its rich history and culture, and it is also home to some of the best international cycling events in the United States. The Philadelphia International Championships was an annual bicycle race held in the city, and it was described as the best classic international cyclist in the US and one of the richest and most prestigious one-day races outside of Europe. It was part of the UCI America Tour and was ranked 1.1 by the International Cycling Union (UCI), making it the highest-ranked single-day race in the Western Hemisphere after the Montreal Cycling Grand Prix and the UCI World Tour Quebec Grand Prix. The North American road calendar has lost an unfair number of important races over the past decade, losing all of its major single-day races and with only one top-tier stage race for men, the Tour of Utah, and for women, the Colorado Classic.
The Cyclingnews team reviews the five races we miss the most, including the Philadelphia International Championships. The city also hosts a number of other events throughout the year that celebrate its African-American culture. The largest African-American street festival in the country, now turning 48, begins with a week of events and culminates on Sunday, June 11, with a festival in which more than 100 vendors and two live entertainment stages participate. The 31st annual African-American Children's Book Fair is one of the largest and oldest single-day events for African-American children's books in the country, featuring nationally renowned authors and illustrators, representatives of the multi-cultural literary community, enriching children's books, and activities that promote the pleasure of reading.
The fall edition of this event, held twice a year and is the oldest outdoor fine art exhibition in the country, brings paintings, glassware, sketches and more to Rittenhouse Square, an open-air gallery with works by talented artists and craftsmen. After two years in FDR Park, the Philadelphia Flower Show is once again being held indoors, and it returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center with the theme “The Garden Electric”. This popular event, held twice a year, is the oldest outdoor fine art exhibition in the country (96 years old in 2002), returns to the perimeter of Rittenhouse Square Park and presents works by more than 140 professional artists specializing in materials ranging from sculpture to pastels. Franklin Square lights up the night with the return of the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, held in Old Town with tickets. The event has been expanded in recent years to incorporate celebrations of June 19th, culminating with an impressive fireworks display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on July 4th.
One of the country's leading art and design fairs returns to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for its second time in more than 60 years. In one of the most spectacular and picturesque racing events in the country, thousands of athletes roam through Philadelphia's historic center passing by landmarks such as The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row while spectators cheer them on. The Philadelphia International Championships is one of these events that make this city a great destination for cycling enthusiasts. If you are a cycling enthusiast looking for an unforgettable experience then you should definitely consider visiting Philadelphia for some of its amazing international cycling events. From classic races like Philadelphia International Championships, to street festivals celebrating African-American culture or art exhibitions at Rittenhouse Square Park - there is something for everyone! Whether you are looking for a competitive race or just want to enjoy some beautiful scenery while riding your bike - Philadelphia has it all!.
