With varying paces, the people of Philadelphia gathered to celebrate the largest professional bicycle race in the United States. During the entire weekend, the downtown area between the Art Museum and Manayunk Wall throbbed with race-related activity. Beginning on Friday, events catered to every level of cyclist, from recreational to professional riders. A handful of hard-core Philadelphians opened the festivities on Friday with the Aplus Wall Climb. "This whole weekend is really great. My family just met a group of professional riders," said Jim Klabe of Wilmington, Delaware. "We just watched all the guys climb Manayunk, which is like a 17 story building." Other brave bikers continued the events on Saturday with the Greg LeMond Time Trials and the CoreStates/Urban Affairs Coalition Amateur Bike Challenge. Of course, all these events culminated on Sunday with the Thrift Drug Family Fun Ride in the morning and the 12th annual CoreStates U.S. Pro Cycling Championship for men and the third Liberty Classic for women taking place in the afternoon. Eddy Gragus from Boulder, Colorado, became the U.S. Pro champion with a bold move in the race's final 500 meters. Gragus and eight other riders covered the CoreStates course in 6 hours, 2 minutes and 32 seconds, at an average speed of 25.82 m.p.h. "This is the greatest moment in my life right now," Gragus said after he crossed the finish line. "It's something I've dreamed about for five years." More than 50,000 spectators camped out along the race course to witness the professional riders who maintained top form despite the hot and humid weather. The director of the Navigator team, Keith Evans, said the humid weather caused at least eight people to drop out of the race. But nothing could keep the crowds of people away. "I wouldn't miss this race for the world," said Mike Pudinski from North Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "I'm here to cheer on my favorite guy, but the good music and free food aren't bad either." The day truly sported activities for all, with many spectators in the Manayunk Wall region enjoying the party atmosphere. One large and mostly intoxicated group even enjoyed a large trampoline set up near the road. Organizers hope that the increased involvement in the weekend activities will result in more awareness of cycling as a competitive sport. "What we're trying to say," Ron Ruggiero, president and founder of Tri-State Velo, a local cycling club that is helping to organize some of the events. "is, 'Hey, there's cycling here 365 days a year. Why not get out and ride your bike?'"
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