Devon Haskell, AM’07, a doctoral student in applied microeconomics and the economics of education, is a championship bicyclist now winning races in her first pro season. Haskell spoke with Dialogo from Santa Cruz, California, her home base with her fiancé, economist and UCSC assistant professor Aspen Gorry, AM’06, PhD’09.  

You’re heading to Belgium and the Netherlands in April with team Tibco, and you spent a month last summer racing in France on the U.S. development team. Is Europe the center of cycling right now?

There’s a good cycling scene in the United States, but the biggest and hardest races are in Europe. It’s been our goal to develop a team that can, hopefully, compete in the 2012 Olympics or in World Championships.  

You’re working on your dissertation at the same time?

Yes, that’s what I’m trying to do! I’m studying the effects of school sports on academics and educational outcomes. It aligns with all of my interests. I always played sports growing up, which offered a good balance and helped me stay focused on my studies.  

Is it difficult to strike that balance at the moment? 

I’m a little more focused on cycling during racing season, but I’ve always got my research on the brain. It may take me a little longer to finish my dissertation but that’s a good trade-off for being able to pursue my passion at the same time. I think it’s good to keep busy.  

Road racing is in the spring, but in the autumn it’s Cyclocross, which involves racing on an obstacle-laden track; its iconic image is a rider carrying her own bike up a muddy hill. What appeals to you about such a mentally and physically challenging sport? 

I always tell people it’s fun. Some people get it and others just give me weird looks. The more elements on a course, the bigger the challenge and the more fun it is to do.   

If someone asked you for an elevator speech, would you describe yourself as an athlete or an economist?

I see myself as both—a nerdy athlete. A cool economist, maybe. They’re two different worlds. The rest of my team is a pretty well-educated group too. I’m not an anomaly here. I think I may be more of an anomaly in the economics department.