May 24, 2006 – The Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling Benefiting Fox Chase Cancer Center has pulled off a last minute coup. With an 11th hour decision by the UCI, the governing body of international cycling, the Commerce Bank Reading Classic has been granted official approval for prestigious UCI sanctioning.

Final UCI approval was held up until Pro Cycling Tour, race organizers, could present course details. According to course designer, Jerry Casale, “This was not a simple matter of switching the Thursday race from Trenton, NJ to Reading, PA. The UCI needs to be certain that road closure approvals and adequate safety precautions are in place. We worked closely with Reading city officials to make sure they were completely pleased with the plan before we submitted it. Considering that we confirmed Reading as the June 8 venue late last month, this was done in record time.”

Playing a key role in their final decision was the fact that throughout its 21 year history the Pro Cycling Tour’s Philadelphia race series has been in good standing with the UCI and Sean Petty of USA Cycling strongly endorsed the new venue. The green light was finally given and the Commerce Bank Reading Classic was added to the list of UCI races along with the Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship and the Commerce Bank Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic.

With all three races in the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling slated as UCI events, this week of cycling presents a golden opportunity for the 23 professional men’s and 24 professional women’s teams competing to amass valuable international UCI ranking points. In the eyes of the international cycling community, these points ultimately determine the success of both the team and the individual riders that ride for it.

Just as important to race organizers is to ensure that each course has unique characteristics. “The Reading course will favor the strong power climbers,” said PCT technical director, Ron Ruggiero. “Add Lancaster as a tough technical course and Philly as the one that favors good all rounders who can go the longer distance and you have three very different races. The rider who does well in all three will certainly have to be a top, top pro.”

The Commerce Bank Tom Bamford, Reading and women’s Liberty Classics will be designated as category 1.1 UCI races with the winner of each event receiving 80 UCI points. The final race of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling, the Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship which is continuing as a 1.HC category UCI event will award a whopping 100 UCI points to the winner and is at the same level in terms of prestige as the biggest European professional Semi-Classic races which draw hundreds of thousands of spectators.

In addition to awarding these coveted UCI points, the Pro Cycling Tour will be required to run the races under strict UCI rules that designate specific timing protocol, race course set up and prize money minimums.

With the addition of the Commerce Bank Reading Classic to the list of UCI races on tap for the Triple Crown week, the pressure will be placed firmly on the shoulders of the dominant team’s leaders. These stars of cycling would be well advised to keep a close eye on the underdogs as there will be no lack of incentive for them to take their shots at climbing to the top step of the podium.