It was described as "America's top international cycling classic, and one of the richest and most prestigious one day races outside of Europe."

The men's event was ranked 1.1 by the International Cycling Union (UCI), the sport's governing body, which made it the highest ranked single-day race in the Western Hemisphere after the UCI World Tour Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal and Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec.

With assistance from former Philadelphia mayor and then-Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, a corporate sponsor was found in 2006; Commerce Bank made a four-year commitment.

The Philadelphia International Championship was once the final leg of a one-week, 3-race circuit called the TD Bank Triple Crown of Cycling.

Through 2005, the highest placed finisher registered in the United States was named the USPRO champion, whether or not he won the race.

The race started on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and then headed along Kelly Drive into the northwest section of the city, through East Falls, Manayunk, and Roxborough, then returned to the Parkway and Logan Circle to complete its loop, passing parts of Fairmount Park along the way.

The Manayunk Wall, located by Jerry Casale and David Chauner when they were laying out the course in 1985, refers to Levering Street and Lyceum Avenue in northwest Philadelphia.

The race included BMX bikes, tricycles, shopping carts, wheelchairs, skateboards, bed frames and roller skates.

A young man was injured during the 2006 race when he was blindsided by another individual who was careening down the wall in a shopping cart.