Youth Cycling Network, Flushing, NY (2026)

03/27/2026

Ari Mar 22: It had been a while since Max and I had raced together, but now that Max upgraded to Cat 3, we were super excited to be in the same field at the Verge Series #1 Cat 2/3 Prospect Park road race, along with other friends such as Bennett, Devin, Justin, and Viv.

As usual, my goal was to join a breakaway. I even brought my skinsuit to get an extra boost. Max’s goal was to stay tucked in and then send it toward the front on the last lap.

The race started off with many breakaway attempts. There were constantly a few riders off the front, and I tried to join most of them. At one point, I was with a group of about 20 riders in a small break, but we never got much separation from the field. I am still amazed that this one got brought back because it had riders from all the major teams, but we were simply not coordinated enough.

In the last two laps, four riders individually snuck away, and they eventually formed the winning breakaway.

With four riders off the front, the field was fighting for 5th place. With 1km to go, I found myself in poor position on the right side of the road. As I tried to move up, I saw Max flying by on the left side, with Justin on his wheel for a leadout.

Max made it all the way to the front with about 400m to go, and Justin took off to win the field sprint. Max then blew up, got passed by a bunch of riders, but still managed to finish 21st in his first Cat 2/3 race.

I found an opening and finished 4th in the field sprint and 8th out of 88 overall.

This was a really great day for both of us. I got my best Prospect Park field sprint result and finally broke my curse of getting boxed in and not finding good lines. And for Max, this was a hell of a Cat 2/3 debut.

Afterward, Max and I hung out with our Star Track Cycling teammates and other friends for a while. Then Ian and I rode home along the Belt Parkway to get some Z2 miles in.

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See more blog posts at https://youthcycling.net

We are part of Star Track Cycling and extremely grateful and proud to be supported by Brihop Coaching, Foundation Cycling New York City, Hincapie Sportswear, USA Cycling, Zwift amongst others.

03/25/2026

Ari Mar 14: Yes, finally, at the Century Road Club Association (CRCA) Central Park road race, I managed to get into a break in a Cat 1/2/3 field. This has been a big goal for me, and it finally worked!

My experience has been that these Cat 1/2/3 fields often have winning breaks, and if you miss them, you are out of contention for a podium spot and left racing for honor in the field sprint. To get into a break, I was previously either racing too aggressively and chasing after everything, which burned too many matches, or I tried staying more tucked in to conserve energy but ended up missing the breaks. Today, I found a good middle ground.

Our race was 5 laps for nearly 50km, and today I got into the break by following one rider who attacked on the final lap on Harlem Hill. We worked together for about 8km and, with 1km to go, we even managed to catch the two riders who had gone off the front earlier in the race.

I was near my limit by the time we caught them, but I tried to pass them with the momentum I had because I wanted to avoid the field catching us. That backfired, and I ended up leading out the sprint and finishing 4th/32. In the meantime, the field caught up, and I crossed the finish line just 4 seconds ahead of it.

You can also watch the GoPro recording of the race at https://youtu.be/sbP5Uhx7ebE

I have always aspired to be a breakaway rider because of the strength it takes to ride hard for dozens of kilometers, so I finally proved to myself that becoming one is possible. Granted, this breakaway was only 8km long, the field was rather small, and I am sure there was also a good amount of luck involved, but at least this one succeeded.

Max raced the Cat 3/4 field in Central Park for the first time and had a fantastic race. His race was 4 laps for nearly 40km. He went solo for about 2km to try to catch a break that formed near the start of the third lap, but he just missed it. So for him, it came down to the field sprint, and he finished 18th/44.

This was also my first CRCA Club Race of the year, and it felt really special to race in Central Park again and catch up with the CRCA community and the Star Track Cycling riders who were also racing today: Ian, Ilai, Logan, Viv, and Zara.

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See more blog posts at https://youthcycling.net

We are part of Star Track Cycling and extremely grateful and proud to be supported by Brihop Coaching, Foundation Cycling New York City, Hincapie Sportswear, USA Cycling, Zwift amongst others.

03/13/2026

Ari Mar 7: After just racing two of the most popular US junior stage races, VOSStageRace and La Primavera at Lago Vista, you might think that going to the local The Lucarelli & Castaldi Branchbrook Spring Series road race would be a letdown, but that is far from the truth. For one, this was my first New York City-area race this season, and it was great to catch up with many people I hadn’t seen since last season. Also, Branchbrook is one of my favorite races.

I raced the Cat 1/2/3, and my field included my Star Track Cycling teammates Justin, Otis, and Viv. We planned on using team tactics, and my job was to chase down anyone who didn’t have Star Track on their jersey. I was close to my limit for the entire race, chasing down nearly every attack. There were moments when I thought I had burned all of my matches, but I found one extra in me.

Well, there was certainly one breakaway I didn’t catch, and it included my teammate Otis along with six other riders. Of course, I would love to tell you that I didn’t chase that one because it would have been a bad idea to bring back my own teammate’s breakaway, but honestly, even if I had wanted to, I was just too gassed and the break was super strong.

Otis finished 3rd, and I came in 12th in the field sprint for 19th place out of 82 riders. You can watch the GoPro footage of my race on our YouTube channel.

Coincidentally, it was less than a year ago that I raced my first Cat 1/2/3, right here at Branchbrook. At the time, I was nervous about racing in the Cat 1/2/3 field and could not have imagined that I would be chasing breaks in the same field a year later.

Can’t wait to be back at Branchbrook next Sunday. My plan is to conserve more energy so that I have enough left to hopefully make the winning break.

I feel so lucky to be a bike racer in New York. Not only are there more races than one could possibly do, but the event organizers are super generous and either let juniors race for free or at heavily discounted prices. Yes, it feels good to be back!

03/12/2026

Ari Mar 1: I learned so much at La Primavera at Lago Vista, a stop on the USA Juniors Cup series. Coming off the VOSStageRace, I was put in many race scenarios that I hadn’t been in before. I’ll try my best to describe them and what I learned.

Max and I both raced in the 15-16 field, even though Max’s racing age is just 13. Had he competed in the 13-14 field, he would have faced only seven other riders.

The first tricky race scenario was the 10km TT. This wasn’t a conventional out-and-back TT. Instead, it took place over 3.75 laps of a go-kart track with many turns. This made the race favor riders who had cornering skills in addition to power. Max finished 36th and I finished 13th in a field of 43 riders.

Next up was the first 95km road race. We raced the course on both Saturday and Sunday, just in opposite directions. On Saturday, we raced clockwise, with milder climbing but steeper descents. The race dynamic was weird because it had many hard five-minute periods where people would try to get away, and then we would ride really easily for 10–15 minutes. I really didn’t like these slow parts, but at the same time, it was impossible for me to get off the front.

There were many moments when a few others and I nearly got into a breakaway, but the remaining in the field were too fresh from the extensive easy riding. The race ended in a field sprint, and I finished 20th. I wasn’t that satisfied, since my poor position limited how hard I could sprint, but I quickly directed my focus to the next day.

The event culminated with the Sunday road race, which had the steeper climbing because we raced it counterclockwise. The first half of the race consisted of constant attacks until three riders got away and were never caught. We chased for a while, but kept getting neutralized, so our hopes of catching the breakaway were gone.

By then, there were roughly 20 riders left in the field. We continued getting neutralized around five times, which put the field in a stalemate, since making the race fast could risk catching another field and getting neutralized even more. So, for the remainder of the race, we rode really easily, which allowed many riders to recover and even let some riders catch back on.

I stupidly led out the field sprint and finished 17th. In retrospect, I probably should have pushed the pace without worrying about getting neutralized, to reduce the number of riders I’d have to face in the sprint, even if I wasted more energy than the others.

Overall, I can’t really complain, since I am the “under” in the age category and still finished third, second, and second among the 15-year-olds in the three races, respectively. More importantly, I gained valuable race experience that will help me for the rest of my career.

I can’t wait to be back next year. And thanks to whoever made La Primavera Lago Vista possible—it definitely lives up to the hype.

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See more blog posts at https://youthcycling.net

We are part of Star Track Cycling and extremely grateful and proud to be supported by Brihop Coaching, Foundation Cycling New York City, Hincapie Sportswear, USA Cycling, Zwift amongst others.

02/23/2026

Ari Feb 15: Starting off the season with a bang! Max and I raced the VOSStageRace from February 13–15 in Phoenix, AZ. This was our first junior stage race, so we were super stoked, even though we had little idea what to expect. What made VoS even more rewarding was that it capped off the off-season of endless kilometers on the trainer during an unusually harsh NYC winter.

Max raced the men’s 13–14 field with an 8km time trial, 23km road race, and a 30min crit. He had 19 people in his field. He was really happy to reunite with his good friends who traveled from all over the country. It really shows how popular VoS is.

I raced the men’s 15–16 field with a 16km time trial, a 74km road race, and a 40min crit. I had 61 riders in my field, which is by far the largest junior field I’ve competed in (except perhaps some of my races in Europe). This is largely because VoS is part of the USA Juniors Cup, which includes other major junior stage races. Overall, Max finished the stage race 4th out of 19 and I finished 16 out of 61, and we’re both super happy with these results since we were the “unders” in our age categories.

First up was the TT, south of Phoenix, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The course was pancake-flat with mountains on the horizon and was shaped like an “L.” The only noteworthy variable on this course was the wind. I had a tailwind, then a crosswind, and then a headwind. Max had an out-and-back course that went from tailwind to headwind.

Another thing I had to contend with was a power meter malfunction that started during my opener workout the prior day. That meant I couldn’t use power in the TT, so I couldn’t rely on it to pace myself. This wasn’t really an issue because the course was so simple. I essentially rode full gas the entire time and finished 20th out of 61. Max also had a really fulfilling TT, finishing 4th out of 19.

The race we were most excited about was the road race. Max raced one lap and I raced three laps of a 26km flat course with a steady 5min climb at the finish. I raced from the front the entire time, hoping to get into any potential breakaways. I was out of contention for the GC win, so I decided to treat this as an individual race and therefore took a lot of risks.

I found myself in a bunch of short, small breakaways and even solo on the last half-lap. I had to throw down a lot of hard digs to put myself in a winning position on the final hill, which left me with nothing left to sprint with, and I came in 19th.

Max’s race was super easy until it turned into an all-out sprint with 3km to go. He finished 4th out of 19 from a shattered breakaway.

Lastly was the crit in downtown Phoenix. The vibe was totally different from the quiet and scenic TT and road courses, which gave VoS a nice variety. The course was tricky: eight corners, with turns varying in width.

Max was up first, and his field rode full gas the entire time. He launched his sprint a little too early and finished 6th out of 19 in a field sprint.

Like Max’s race, mine was hard the entire time. I stayed in the top 10 for most of the race, joining the attacks I found promising, and was even at the front a few times. In hindsight, I probably should have conserved more energy and relied on others to chase. I was a bit too far back in the field leading up to the finish, so I sprinted for 16th place.

Our first junior stage race definitely didn’t disappoint! Being able to race this many juniors for three days was super enriching. Max and I were most proud of our consistency across all days. We’ll definitely miss Phoenix as we fly to Rock Hill, SC, for the Star Track Cycling Training Camp.

12/13/2025

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11/18/2025

Star Track Cycling competing at the USA Cycling Madison National Championships, hosted by Mad Track Arena.

11/10/2025

Huge thanks to Mad Track Arena for the warm welcome and amazing track cycling weekend!

Three hours Friday night. Two more Saturday morning. Then a full night of racing. Can’t wait to come back!

Special shout-out to Carl Wilkins for donating so generously to the Star Track Cycling travel fund so more kids from New York can race in Detroit! 🙏💛

09/28/2025

Ari Sep 14: No better way to end our last “away” race this season than the Gran Fondo Maryland! Last year, we had a great time racing through beautiful scenery and tackling grueling hills. This year, I was eligible to compete in the 14–16 category for the National Championship, aiming to win a third national title.

Timing chip, start position, national anthem – and we were off for 110km of riding with more than 2,000m of climbing! The start positions for the National Championship were set by age category, and my group was second to last. My only goal leading up to the first segment was to move up so I wouldn’t get held up by slower riders.

I ultimately entered time segment #1 third wheel. I hung with the front group until halfway, where the climb got steeper. I finished the climb in 3rd place for my age group, with a time of 20 minutes and 32 seconds, which was just over 2 minutes behind the leader, Bennett Rose (18 minutes and 19 seconds).

Afterwards I joined Nate Beaver, who was sitting in second, and we chatted until time segment #2. We stayed mostly together until he pulled away on the final kicker with 200m to go.

On segment #3, the roads were narrow and passing was tough. Nate and a few others from different categories slipped through a gap that I couldn’t follow. I finished the climb a few seconds back, but still in 3rd place. Meanwhile, Bennett and his dad worked together and gained even more time on us.

For the final segment, Liam Winn, Nate, and I worked together to try to close the gap to Bennett. But Bennett caught us, and we started attacking each other. Ultimately, I finished 3rd out of 8 riders, which I was happy with — especially since I am at the bottom of the 14–16 age group.

Following the last segment (which ended at the Frederick overlook with its stunning view), Nate, Liam, and I descended back to downtown Frederick, chatting and analyzing our efforts.

Max is too young to compete for the Gran Fondo national title since he’s just 12 (you have to be at least 14), so he rode the 140km Gran route with 2,500m of climbing! That meant 30km more than me, 500m more climbing, and an extra timed segment. This route is NOT for the faint-hearted! His field started 30 minutes later, and he finished in just over 6 hours, including rest stop breaks (which Max particularly likes). He was the only U19 rider in the Gran route — so he won it! Well, you have to be in it to win it. Overall, Max finished 93rd out of 232 riders who started the Gran route. He also won a $125 bottle of balsamic vinegar in the raffle and, for winning his age group, a Gran Fondo Maryland shirt and bib.

Can’t wait to be back next year — with a sharp eye on chasing the national championship!

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See more blog posts at https://youthcycling.net

We are part of Track Cycling and extremely grateful and proud to be supported by Brihop Coaching, Foundation Cycling New York City, Hincapie Sportswear, USA Cycling, Zwift amongst others.

06/22/2025

Ari Jun 14: When recalling the Verge Series #3 Cat 2-3 race in Prospect Park, the two words that immediately come to mind are pain and rain. I lined up at the start line, ready to race in the most inhospitable conditions the sky had to offer. The race started with a steady, gentle drizzle. On the first lap, riders were relentlessly attacking, desperate for a breakaway—likely trying to go off the front before the rain turned the pavement slick.

Then the chaos began.

On the first lap, two fire trucks blocked the course at the start/finish line, forcing us to unclip. We were neutralized until the trucks cleared. The same thing happened again the next lap—just as I was in a promising move off the front. After the restart, I found myself shuffled to the back, and that’s when the real breakaway escaped. Four riders slipped away, never to be seen again. I was frustrated—I’d burned matches chasing every early move, and when it finally stuck, I was out of position.

As the race progressed, the rain poured harder, and Prospect Park turned into a battlefield of grit and grind. I committed to chasing the breakaway down. I was always in the top five positions, working together with other riders. As I pulled, I pushed myself past limits, setting new 5-, 10-, 20-, 60-, and 90-minute power records. I felt that the savage downpour dulled the pain. With one lap to go, I made a frantic attack, with eyes on getting a small group to go off the front with me and take it to the line. I wanted to avoid field sprinting in the pounding rain, reducing the risk of crashing—especially before Road Nationals. Three of us got away and held it until the final climb. I had pretty much blown myself up at that point, and the group passed me with tremendous speed—I couldn’t catch on. I then rolled in for 28th out of 37 riders.

This result doesn’t reflect how satisfied I am with my performance. I proved I could hold a top-five position in a Cat 2-3 field, chase hard, and perform in brutal conditions. I’m doing well at the right time. Road Nats are two weeks out, and I'm more motivated than ever.

You can see all the action via my GoPro cameras here https://youtu.be/vGF3vEW11Dk

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See more blog posts at https://youthcycling.net

We are part of Star Track Cycling and extremely grateful and proud to be supported by Brihop Coaching, Foundation Cycling New York City, Hincapie Sportswear, USA Cycling, Zwift amongst others.

06/11/2025

Ari Jun 10: Can’t even remember the last time Max and I raced together, but we finally did in the 15–18 field at the Connecticut Nutmeg State Games Crit. First, though, we raced in separate fields per our age categories—Max the 9–12 and I the 13–14. We each held a hard pace, eventually went solo, and won.

Then came the highlight for us: the 15–18 field, where we competed against 13 others for 40 minutes. In the early laps, riders were constantly attacking, and I launched a few attacks too to keep the pace high. Around 15 minutes into the race, I slingshotted past the field and got a good gap. Bennett Rose joined me, and we worked together for several laps—though I must admit he did more than his fair share of pulling. With four laps to go, however, Bennett attacked. I just couldn’t catch on and finished second.

During all of that, Max was an absolutely incredible brother and teammate. He helped keep the pace fast in the early laps, and once I broke away with Bennett, he slowed things down to prevent people from bridging.

This event was seriously awesome! The organizers and officials were super friendly, and we even got free T-shirts. Max and I didn’t just have fun racing—we also got to hang out with old friends and make some new ones too. We’ll definitely do our best to be back next year!

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See more blog posts at https://youthcycling.net

We are part of Star Track Cycling and extremely grateful and proud to be supported by Brihop Coaching, Foundation Cycling New York City, Hincapie Sportswear, USA Cycling, Zwift amongst others.

Youth Cycling Network

03/27/2026

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02/23/2026

12/13/2025

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