{"id":260526,"date":"2026-08-31T21:03:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T21:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/31\/ella-sabo-patient-and-powerful-for-surprise-podium-finish-at-philly-classic\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T21:03:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T21:03:34","slug":"ella-sabo-patient-and-powerful-for-surprise-podium-finish-at-philly-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/31\/ella-sabo-patient-and-powerful-for-surprise-podium-finish-at-philly-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Ella Sabo patient and powerful for surprise podium finish at Philly Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-56d6d224-a55c-11f1-b67f-4d5445ff9710\">The banner year for 20-year-old Ella Sabo (Virginia\u2019s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) kept on rolling Sunday with a surprising podium finish at the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/the-return-of-the-philly-cycling-classic-is-just-what-north-american-road-racing-has-been-longing-for-analysis\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/the-return-of-the-philly-cycling-classic-is-just-what-north-american-road-racing-has-been-longing-for-analysis\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/the-return-of-the-philly-cycling-classic-is-just-what-north-american-road-racing-has-been-longing-for-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Philadelphia Cycling Classic<\/a> p\/b AmeriGas. She exhibited her maturity and &#8220;multi-faceted&#8221; racing skills to be part of a chasing group which caught a late breakaway and saved enough in the tank across three hilly circuits of Lemon Hill to sprint for third.<\/p>\n<p>While two Women&#8217;s WorldTour riders reached the finish line at Ben Franklin Parkway just a bike length sooner &#8211; <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/category\/womens-cycling\/philadelphia-cycling-classic-women-chiara-consonni-victorious-in-first-edition-since-2016\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/category\/womens-cycling\/philadelphia-cycling-classic-women-chiara-consonni-victorious-in-first-edition-since-2016\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/category\/womens-cycling\/philadelphia-cycling-classic-women-chiara-consonni-victorious-in-first-edition-since-2016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM) winning<\/a> and Alexandra Volstad (EF Education-Oatly) going second &#8211; Sabo secured her best finish at a UCI one-day race. From the bunch sprint, she outpaced compatriot Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly) and three other WorldTour riders.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"ecom-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-56d6d224-a55c-11f1-b67f-4d5445ff9710-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Her Continental team was one of four squads with only four riders at the race, and they had to start minus Marlies Mej\u00edas due to sickness. So Sabo had only Olivia Cummins, Sof\u00eda Arreola, and Kenna Pfeiffer for support, while other teams brought six riders each.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel=\"\" data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\\\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\\\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header=\"\">\n<p><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-mobile\"\/><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Coming into this week, we had to kind of shift gears pretty last minute with Marlies not feeling well, unfortunately, and so a bit of a last-minute change, and so it was a little stressful, I&#8217;ll be honest, going into the race,&#8221; Sabo told media, including <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, at the finish.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s unreal. I feel like I&#8217;m still trying to soak it all in. I&#8217;m pinching myself.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The California native came into the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/philadelphia-cycling-classic-women-2026\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/philadelphia-cycling-classic-women-2026\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/philadelphia-cycling-classic-women-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">restored Philly Classic<\/a>, which had not been contested for the past 10 years, without personal knowledge of the tricky course, which included multiple passes of the 17% gradient of the Manayunk Wall. However, she had weapons based on experience from team staff &#8211; Shelley Olds, who was twice on the podium when the race was the Liberty Classic, and Giana Chilcott (nee Roberge), who directed the Saturn team to wins at the race. Also, Arreola most recently raced at the 2016 edition.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She was like, it&#8217;ll be a hard race, these girls want it,&#8221; Sabo said about advice from Arreola. &#8220;They&#8217;ve been racing a different style of race that we&#8217;re used to here in the U.S. We knew it was going to be aggressive, and we knew we were just going to have to be smart with what moves we followed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-rSjdhnsxga3mjS5JGVxmTH\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-rSjdhnsxga3mjS5JGVxmTH slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Arreola had also told her teammates about the tough climb in the Manayunk neighbourhood, on the far side of the Philadelphia circuit with the tough pitch from the Schuylkill river.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I had been working in training, doing like two and a half minute efforts, specifically for that climb. So going into it, knowing I had put in the work in preparation to get myself up and over it, and hopefully contest a sprint. It was really cool to [see it] pay off.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Having a squad of four versus some of these squads of six, it was going to be a challenge. So she [Arreola] made sure that we all soaked it in &#8211; just take in the atmosphere that is the Philly Cycling Classic, enjoy the environment.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;That &#8216;Wall&#8217;, so many people cheering. It was so insane, so cool.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Last year, Sabo won the USPro U23 national championship in the road race and this year she took the stars-and-stripes jersey in the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/us-road-national-championships-sabo-che-power-to-stars-and-stripes-in-under-23-criteriums\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/us-road-national-championships-sabo-che-power-to-stars-and-stripes-in-under-23-criteriums\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/us-road-national-championships-sabo-che-power-to-stars-and-stripes-in-under-23-criteriums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U23 criterium national championship<\/a>. And just prior to racing in Philadelphia, she came away from her first USA Cycling Elite Track Championships event with three gold medals &#8211; two in U23 individual races and one in the elite Women&#8217;s Team Pursuit.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The stakes were bigger for Sunday&#8217;s international contest. A podium may have been a surprise to many people, but not to Nicola Cranmer, her team&#8217;s executive director.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;In Philadelphia, Ella raced with tremendous patience. We only had four riders, and they did everything they could to keep her safe and in position until the final lap. From there, she was able to trust her instincts and race to the finish. She has a powerful sprint, and when the opportunity came, she really stepped up,&#8221; Cranmer told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Ella joined our team as a junior, and development takes patience. We\u2019ve watched her make steady progress over the past few years, but this season she really came into her own with another level of confidence and maturity.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Ella will remain with the team next year, and we\u2019re really excited to see what she can do with even more opportunities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You&#8217;ll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go!<\/strong><\/em><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong> <\/strong><\/em><\/a><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>Join today<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/im-pinching-myself-ella-sabo-replaces-stress-with-demonstration-of-patience-and-power-for-podium-finish-at-philadelphia-cycling-classic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The banner year for 20-year-old Ella Sabo (Virginia\u2019s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) kept on rolling Sunday with a surprising podium finish at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic p\/b AmeriGas. She exhibited her maturity and &#8220;multi-faceted&#8221; racing skills to be part of a chasing group which caught a late breakaway and saved enough in the tank across three [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":260527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6804],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-260526","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260526\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/260527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=260526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=260526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}