Lancaster Classic

The race was established in part by Lancaster mayor Janice Stork, along with sponsor CoreStates Financial Corporation (and its acquisitions, Hamilton Bank, First Union, and Wachovia National Bank), in an attempt to revitalize the downtown area.[8]

The race underwent several name changes:

• CoreStates Hamilton Classic (1992-1996)[9][10]
• CoreStates Invitational (1997)[11]
• First Union Invitational (1998-2002)[12][13][14]
• Wachovia Lancaster Invitational (2003-2005)[15]
• Commerce Bank Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic (2006-2007)[16][17][18]
  • Named in memory of a late CoreStates Hamilton Bank executive.[4][16]

It was part of the following tours:

• ICP Tour of America (1993-1996)[19][10][20]
• CoreStates USPRO Cycling Championship (1997)[11]
• First Union Cycling Series (1998-2002)[21][13][14][22]
• USPRO Saturn Tour (1999-2000)[23][24]
• USPRO Championship (2001)[25]
• Wachovia Cycling Series (2003-2005)[26][15][27][28]
• Wachovia USPRO Championship (2004-2005)[26][29][30]
• Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling (first leg) (2006) [18][17][31]
• UCI America (2006)[32][16]
• US Cycling Pro Tour (2007)[33][1][31]

In 2006, two additional races were added: the women's and elite amateur men's race lasted for 25 miles (40 km) and 30 miles (48 km), respectively, around a 0.68 miles (1.09 km) circuit in downtown Lancaster.[1][18][34]

The Lancaster Classic ended abruptly after the 2007 event and was replaced by the Lehigh Valley Classic in nearby Allentown.[35]