Beanpot Cycling Classic
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The Beanpot Cycling Classic is a collegiate cycling race weekend, held near Boston each spring. It is the largest normal season collegiate race weekend in North America, hosting over 400 competitors each year.[1]
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[edit] Races
The Classic consists of three races: a team time trial and a road race, both hosted in Grafton and Westborough, Massachusetts, and a criterium, held in Somerville, Massachusetts.[2]
The race weekend is a regular season road race weekend in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference, and winners garner points that advance them and their schools in divisional standings. Schools are awarded triple points, due to having three races in the event. Winning schools receive a clay beanpot as a trophy.
Team Time Trial
The team time trial is held on a seven-mile course. In 2005 and 2006 the time trial descended from Grafton center and traveled along mostly flat farmland before returning for a tough climb back into the town center.
Road Race
The road race is held on a thirteen-mile rolling course, starting and finishing at the Tufts Veterinary School. Breaks often form on the deceptive Brigham Hill, a 3/4 mile climb with a false crest halfway up.
Optimal viewing locations are along Brigham Hill, along the hill on East St. in North Grafton, and at the start/finish at the Tufts Veterinary School.
Criterium
The criterium is held on a fast, technical course along Professor’s Row at the main campus of Tufts University. The fast, sharp turns and repeated climbs cause the race to break early. The second turn is especially demanding, positioned at the foot of a steep descent. Racers must be especially careful here to avert disaster.
[edit] Organization
The Beanpot is organized by a consortium of Boston-area college cycling clubs. Historically, the time trial is organized by Boston University, the road race by Harvard University, and the criterium by Tufts University. MIT, Northeastern University , and Boston College coordinate finances, promotion, fund-raising, and administration for the event.
Two raffles are typically held to raise funds. One raffle has cycling-specific prizes such as components or wheels. The other raffle has general-interest prizes such as gift certificates to local restaurants.
[edit] Recent Winners
| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | UVM | UNH | Dartmouth |
| 2005 | UVM | Dartmouth | Penn. State |
| 2004 | UVM | Penn. State | Dartmouth |
