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Opinion

Editorial: Seeking a wheel deal

For 24 years, Philadelphia's annual professional bike race has promoted the city's vibrancy to the rest of the world. No section of the city has a bigger claim on the race than Manayunk, where a short, steep portion of the 14.4-mile course is legendary to cyclists as "The Wall." Devoted fans in Manayunk sell hot dogs, hold day-long parties, and shower grateful racers with a sprinkler hose.

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For 24 years, Philadelphia's annual professional bike race has promoted the city's vibrancy to the rest of the world.

No section of the city has a bigger claim on the race than Manayunk, where a short, steep portion of the 14.4-mile course is legendary to cyclists as "The Wall." Devoted fans in Manayunk sell hot dogs, hold day-long parties, and shower grateful racers with a sprinkler hose.

It's one of the premier bike races in the country, with an international cast of riders and a route that also showcases the Ben Franklin Parkway and Fairmount Park.

But due to lost sponsorships and city budget woes, this year organizers might be forced to cancel the event. That would be a significant loss for the city and for the thousands of residents, tourists, and athletes who enjoy the race each June.

It's time for new sponsors to step up and rescue this event, much as the Mummers and St. Patrick's Day Parades received last-minute help. The Philadelphia Cycling Championship has become a part of the city.

The crisis for race organizers has been looming for a few years. CoreStates Bank was a primary sponsor of the event, but Wachovia purchased the bank and ended the sponsorship after 20 years.

TD Bank is the lead sponsor this year, but two other sponsors pulled out in the weak economy, leaving organizers about $225,000 short. Also, the city is requiring the bike race to pay for trash cleanup and police services, which cost about $250,000.

That means Pro Cycle Tour, which runs the event, still needs to raise about $500,000 out of its $1.7 million race budget.

It's hard to fault the city, given its massive budget deficits, for insisting that public events help to defray the costs of providing extra services. But the bike race does generate an estimated $15 million or more in business for the city, and it would be shortsighted to lose such a popular event.

An increase in VIP ticket sales, available at procyclingtour.com, would help close the deficit. But what's really needed is for a benefactor who recognizes the special benefits of this race to step forward.