It took about six months for a column of British soldiers and frontiersman under the command of Brig. Gen. John Forbes to hack out a wagon road in 1758 from Philadelphia through the mountains of Penn's Woods to the present day site of Pittsburgh. Their efforts were part of the military campaign during the French and Indian War to evict the French from their fort at the forks of the Ohio.

Two and a half centuries later, the same road will have a new kind of international campaign because the Australians are coming, along with Argentinians, Canadians, Irish and Dutch. But this time, they will finish in six days on racing bikes as part of the American Eagle Outfitters Tour of Pennsylvania.

The race is called an "espoir," a Tour de France-style race featuring the world's top cyclists -- national champions, Olympians and future professionals -- who are under the age of 25. It runs from June 24-29 and covers 450 miles, including circuit races in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, offering a purse of $150,000.

There are nine international teams, 11 American teams, including the Pennsylvania Lightning. Each team has six riders who will be biking in stages of sprints on city streets, speedy rides through rolling farmland and grueling climbs up the scenic Blue Mountains.

"We don't have to chop down any trees like they did when they built the original road, but it's going to be a challenging course, difficult for every rider," said David Chauner, a former Olympian and chairman of the Tour of Pennsylvania. "The mountains may not be the Pyrenees or the Alps, but they will be good tests of stamina and grit. On a scale of 1 to 10, this will be an 8 or a 9."

The riders are up-and-coming competitors at the beginnings of their careers, similar to competitors in the NCAA basketball tournament who aspire to play in the NBA.

The tour begins with time trials at the Ben Franklin Parkway and Eakins Oval in Philadelphia and ends at Stanwix Street and the Boulevard of the Allies following a circuit race on the South Side. The Highmark Foundation, which promotes healthy lifestyles in children and adolescents, will have Highmark Fine Line Festivals in both cities and in towns along the route. The free events will include music and wellness clinics.

The tour is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union and USA Cycling. It will be televised on the cable network Versus as it moves through Downingtown, Camp Hill, Carlisle, Bedford, Latrobe and Ligonier.

Historical connections are more than a coincidence. The race is a signature event of Pittsburgh 250, the commission marking the yearlong celebration of the city's 250th birthday. It also marks the 250th anniversary of Bedford and Ligonier, founded as forts and supply depots during the Forbes campaign.

It's appropriate that the daily leader in the race will wear a yellow shirt, given that the city's colors of gold and black are taken from the coat of arms of William Pitt, for whom the city is named.

Technical teams have already covered the route several times. State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation have given input on traffic issues, and racing has been scheduled during times that will have the least impact on motorized traffic.

The longest stage is a 104-mile endurance test from Camp Hill to Bedford over some rugged terrain.

"That's when the strongest and toughest riders plan their breakout," Chauner said.

Racing bikes are finely tuned machines. Each bike weighs 16 to 20 pounds and costs between $3,000 and $7,000. Race strategies are similar to strategies at NASCAR events: Members of one team diminish wind resistance for riders who conserve energy by drafting along before sprinting into the lead.

The entourage will be hard to miss, not just because of all the colorful spandex. A police escort will travel in front and back of the pack. There will be support vehicles, race officials, medical support, outriders on motorcycles and a helicopter overhead to assure radio communication, with announcements coming in French and English.

"It's like a ballet out on the roads," Chauner said.

This being the age of performance-enhancing substances, there will be drug testing every day. Samples will be taken by an anti-doping agency for testing by an independent lab.

"We want a level playing field," Chauner said.

For more information, visit www.tourofpa.com.