March 9, 2007 – As pro riders across the Americas begin the long season ahead, the most ambitious will have their sights focused firmly on the UCI’s prestigious America Tour classification. This year’s Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Championship on June 10, 2007, celebrates 23 years of international bike racing in the USA’s fourth largest city by providing these riders with the best opportunity to accumulate America Tour points in a single day of racing.

The UCI introduced the new America Tour competition two years ago and by all accounts it has been a huge success. Similar year long Continental Tours in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Ociana region (such as New Zealand, Philippines, Australia) use a format of accumulated UCI points and gives the strongest riders in each region the chance to be recognized. The five Continental Tours have provided new focus on cycling’s emergence around the world, shining the spotlight on many professional events that have developed equal or better prestige than the longer running but less progressive races in Western Europe. For these reasons professional teams across North and South America, as well as some from Europe, will be marking their race calendars with a gold star on June 10 to attend the USA’s most bountiful one day point offering of the year, the Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Championship.

Not only is the Philadelphia International the only UCI 1.HC race in North and South America, it is preceded by the Commerce Bank Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic and the Commerce Bank Reading Classic, both top ranked UCI events as well. Packing all of these races into one week will surely bring the cream to the top and the winner of the prestigious Triple Crown of Cycling will likely be at the top of the America Tour rankings at season’s end as well.

With so much as stake during this week of racing the Commerce Bank Triple Crown will showcase some of the best and most ambitious teams on the America Tour. In addition to the strongest professional teams in both North and South America, invitations have also been sent to several top European teams who have publicly declared stringent anti-drug policies and recognize that the United States and events like the Commerce Bank Triple Crown are offering a bright future for the sport.

2006 Men’s Pro Cycling Tour Schedule

– Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling- Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic 06.03.07 Lancaster, PA
– Commerce Bank Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic (Elite) 06.03.07 Lancaster, PA
– Commerce Bank Reading Classic (Elite) 06.07.07 Reading, PA
– Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling- Reading Classic, Reading, PA 06.07.07 Reading, PA
– Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling- Philadelphia International Championship 06.10.07 Philadelphia, PA

2006 Women’s Pro Cycling Tour Schedule

– Commerce Bank Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic (Women) 06.03.07 Lancaster, PA
– Comerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling – Reading Classic (Women) 06.07.07 Reading, PA
– Commerce Bank Liberty Classic (Women) Philadelphia, PA 06.10.07 Philadelphia, PA

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