It is with great disappointment that we share the news (if you haven’t read already in CyclingNews or PhillyMag) that the Independence Classic, the monicker given to the race once known as the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, is definitely not happening in 2018.

Despite reports last September that the race was placed on professional cycling calendars, we have several confirmations that the Cycling Classic or PICC or Manayunk Bike Race (take your pick of names) is definitely not happening.

1. We received an email from the Managing Director’s Office in early February that no permit was ever applied for:

“We have not received a special event application from Foundry Sports.”

2. We received an email response to our inquiry from USA Cycling

“I have received confirmation that the event is not going forward and it’s being removed from our calendars.” — Jeffrey Hansen, Director of Product Management and Operations, USA Cycling

3. This news was foreshadowed when Robin Morton of g4, the company that ran the PICC for several years, reported on her website in November that it would not be part of the race:

After working on the Philly bike race from 2013 to 2016, the Independence Cycling Classic will not be on the g4 Productions calendar in 2018.  For any information regarding this event, please contact event owner Foundry Sports Group at (314) 499-8181 or visit www.foundrysportsgroup.com.

We tried to contact the company several times, sending emails (which bounced back) and leaving voicemails.  Their Twitter account hasn’t tweeted since April 2017.

The race has been on the ropes for several years, as the high cost of road closures and lack of corporate sponsorship made for a bad combination.

The loss of the Race is sad for Philadelphia, sad for professional cycling and sad for the thousands of fans who cheered with gusto for professional athletes as they climbed the Manayunk Wall and Lemon Hill.