The Philadelphia International Cycling Classic made Philly history. One man is on a mission to bring it back

“I think it was a great event for the city. It was high visibility; teams came from around the world. So everybody knew about the bike race in Philadelphia. But I think it has to work for the city financially,” Morton said.

$17 million worth of economic activity

Econsult Solutions, a Philadelphia economic consultant, did a pro bono financial impact study on reviving the race. Firm president Peter Angelides said their findings indicate positive returns for the city and the region.

“The bike race supports nearly $14 million of economic activity in the City of Philadelphia, with an additional $3 million elsewhere in the Commonwealth, for a total of $17 million in Pennsylvania,” Angelides said.

Those estimates include spending by organizers, visitors, spectators, and participants as they prepare for the race, travel into the city, and spend while they are here, he said.

“The race also generates goodwill and additional tourist interest in Philadelphia,” he said, positive impacts not included in the study’s numbers.

Rogers hasn’t yet tried to meet with city officials; he figures Mayor Cherelle Parker has had enough on her plate settling into office. But he hopes to.

Bringing back the Classic is his dream, but he believes it can be the city’s as well.

“It was such a great event for the city, such a unique event,” Rogers said. “It’s one of the great outdoor arenas in the country to see the top riders in the world — the pageantry and the parade of riders and the excitement as they come.

“If you ask anyone who remembers the race, they’ll say, ‘Every year I used to go to Lemon Hill,’ or ‘I lived in Manayunk on The Wall, it was so awesome.’” he said. “People had parties, and it was a gathering. It was more than just a bike race.”