Petition Launched To Bring Back The Philadelphia International Cycling Classic In Manayunk

Mayor Jim Kenney and U.S. Representative Bob Brady can expect to see a petition coming their ways sometime soon.

Not it's not about politics like most petitions we hear about. This is about the 2017 Philadelphia International Cycling Classic and bringing it back after sponsorship shortfalls led organizers to cancel the annual event.

The petition reads as follows:

Dear Mayor Jim Kenney and Representative Bob Brady,
We appeal to you to find a way to bring back the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic this year. We fully support the City hosting the PICC on June 4, 2017. The PICC is a terrific event that draws tourists and professional cyclists from around the world and millions of dollars of revenue to the City and small businesses in Manayunk.
Philadelphians love this race because it puts Philadelphia on the map as a world class city for road cycling and racing and shows off the region's trail network, the Circuit Trails and its unparalleled Schuylkill River Trail.
All who sign this petition support bringing back the PICC in 2017 and encourage you to find a way make it possible!

As of Friday at noon, the petition has roughly 550 signatures of the 750 goal.

The announcement of the race's cancellation came last week, with organizers saying not enough sponsors came in to make the event happen.

"Regrettably, even after extensive fundraising efforts, we were not able to find enough sponsors interested in covering the $1 million cost of the bike race to host it this year,” said Jazelle Jones, Deputy Managing Director-Office of Special Events.

The race has been a staple in the city since 1985 and is known for its grueling climb up the "Manayunk Wall."

You can visit the race's website to sign the petition showing Kenney and Brady you want them to find a way to bring back the race.

Image via Shutterstock