Another Exciting Finish To Philadelphia Bike Race
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia International Cycling Championship had the usual hold-your-breath finish on the Ben Franklin Parkway on Sunday.
Three riders were ahead by about three minutes after they completed all of the big laps between Logan Circle and Manayunk, but on the last of five short 3.3 mile finishing laps between Logan Circle and Lemon Hill, literally more than 120 miles into the 124 mile race, the pack swallowed them up and there was a mass sprint to the finish.
"Here they come Philadelphia! A 1, 2, 3 finish. Serebryakov of Team Type 1-Sanofi!"
The Russian Alexander Serebryakov of Team Type 1-Sanofi crossed the line in front of his team mate Aldo Ilesic, and the American Freddy Rodriguez, a three time winner here in Philadelphia riding for Team Exergy came in third, making yet another podium appearance.
The Women's Liberty Classic had a wide open bunch sprint at the end, but team tactics played out perfectly for German rider Ina Teutenberg.