There was no way that the weekend of April 9-10th was not going to be epic.
The Ephs had been eagerly awaiting a return to New Haven ever since team captain Erik “Division III majors are faster” Levinsohn absolutely wrecked the Men’s D2 field last year in both the ITT and the Circuit, while the rest of last year’s squad delivered performances which made the ECCC sit up and wonder who the heck these purple-splotched speed demons were. Last year the Ephs walked away with one blue and white polka dot King of the Mountains jersey. This year, they planned to walk away with several.
Combine this determination with a healthy dose of team spirit and absurdity cultivated by Erik, Ian, and John over spring break, and introduced to the rest of the team by frequent references to “MAN VS HILL” and “RAGS”, and the team was in for a hell of a weekend.
Friday’s highlights:
-Erik drinks degreaser from the bottle clearly labeled “DO NOT DRINK, DEGREASER”
-Much discussion at dinner of the general moral bankruptcy of certain members of the classes of 2013 and 2014
-Despite being equipped with EZPass, Team Lexus arrives at the Levinsohn residence after Team Ragwagon
-Much discussion of whether Erik’s proposed use of his father’s Zipp 404 during the ITT would qualify him for the title of “Tool” in addition to “Rag”.
Saturday:
-Two KoM’s. NBD. Erik proves he was right to use the 404.
-Ian loses some skin but gains badassery points. His shorts are now on display in the ark.
-Heath learns first hand that the universe has a sick sense of humor when it comes to shifting cables.
-Procrastination as a team sport.
Sunday:
-THE AERO-PHISH
-Two UVM riders ride a ceremonial lap before the crit on a tandem, the stoker rabidly waving an American flag
-A Bowdoin rider who, despite having returned to his hotel room at 6:15AM after a night of partying with the Yale crew team, manages to win both primes in the Men’s D2 crit and come in 3rd in the final sprint.
-Team sing-a-long of Wagon Wheel.
Oh, and there were bike races too. Because no one else has posted these yet:
-ITT (Hill Climb)
Women’s C
1st – Amy Levine
17th – Jen Rowe
29th – Heath Goldman
Men’s C
1st – Erik Levinsohn
14th – Ian Nesbitt
Men’s D2
5th – John Hawthorne
10th – Henry Schmidt
-Circuit Race
Women’s C
1st – Amy Levine
16th – Jen Rowe
Men’s C
3rd – Erik Levinsohn
Men’s D2
4th – John Hawthorne
36th – Henry Schmidt
-Criterium
Women’s C
14th – Jen Rowe
27th – Amy Levine
Men’s C2
20th – Erik Levinsohn
Men’s D2
7th – John Hawthorne
13th – Henry Schmidt
Photo credits: Chatura Attapatu
