The City of Scranton, PA welcomed hundreds of racers to its downtown business district for the second year of its two-day cycling festival, the Electric City Classic. Taking place the last week of August, the race adds a welcomed sense of excitement to the end of road-racing season.

Saturday: The Criterium

The first day kicked off in downtown Scranton with an exciting 10 corner crit, designated as the 2022 Pennsylvania State Criterium Championships. From start to finish, the thoughtful organization of the Electric City Classic made it feel like a national-level race. After a year of combined fields and incorrect race results while racing in amateur Women’s fields, it was refreshing to get the full race experience: live timing chips, separate fields, equal payouts & primes, winners jerseys, and a safe course with plenty of barriers and attentive marshals. I didn’t witness a single close call between a racer and a pedestrian on course throughout the entirety of the day.

The environment was one that was just as exciting to spectate as it was to race. Strategically placed loud speakers allowed racers and spectators to get the finish-line feel around the entire race course. This meant the finish line wasn’t too crowded at all times, and you could hear what was going on even while watching the action in the middle of the course. Sounds simple, but this one detail really changed the environment of the entire race to be so much more enjoyable for all.

Gallery by Ron Short

Sunday: The Hill Climb

The weekend continues into Sunday, with the Electric City Classic Hill Climb, which takes place in Scranton’s fittingly named neighborhood, “Hill Section”. The Hill Climb takes place on Olive Street, a short but steep challenge for all who dare to tackle it.

Stephanie Halamek (Philly Bike Expo) distinctly remembers the three sections of the climb. “I was able to sail up the first and second pitches (5 and 15% grade) before hitting the real wall, the cobbled section at 27%,” she recounts. “There was really no thinking involved- just going as hard as I could, keeping my momentum between the pitches, and keeping my body under tension as every cobblestone sapped some speed and made each next pedal stroke harder and harder.” Stephanie went on to win the Open Women’s race for this year’s Hill Climb, an all-out effort for which only a season of dedicated training can prepare you.

Gallery by Vishrut Garg

Regardless of skill level, the Hill Climb is a fun challenge for all, including a dedicated ‘No Spandex Class‘ — a 1 lap race, any bike, any experience level. For those who prefer to run, there’s also a 1-Mile Dash run that kicks off the morning. The day ends with arguably the most exciting part of the day, the Wheelbarrow Race, where teams for 4 push one member up the cobbled section of the course. After an exciting day of crit racing on Saturday, the Hill Climb atmosphere is the best way to round out the weekend.

As an NYC racer, each year comes with meticulous planning around which regional races we will dedicate our weekends, and Electric City has proven itself as one that is worth the 2.5 hours of travel each way from Brooklyn. I’m looking forward to seeing this race grow as the word gets out: Electric City Classic should be on your list for next year.

Cover photo by Scott Kucharski