Inspired after watching the Tour de France as a kid, David Shamritsky ’17 joined Andover Cycling his Junior year and was elected Co-Captain after his Lower Year.
Though they have not yet started racing this season, the team has been steadily improving and training under Shamritsky’s guidance, according to his teammates.
“He’s really focused and determined during our rides. Because he works so hard in practices it pushes and encourages the rest of us to work harder,” teammate Jessica Wang ’18 said.
Shamritsky has been consistently training for this season, perfecting his technique and improving his strength to benefit the team. He credits his success to his genuine love for the sport and his ability to appreciate the intensity of cycling.
“I think my greatest strength is that I really enjoy it. It’s a sport that is really hard to do well in if you’re forcing yourself to enjoy it,” said Shamritsky.
On the roads, Shamritsky has naturally filled a leadership role. Without the assistance of a large upperclassmen base, Shamritsky has had to teach and guide his teammates during practices.
“We lost a lot of Seniors, which is hard because we came to the season with only one Senior. We didn’t really know how the team would work. I’m very happy with the level of Junior and Lower turnout,” said Shamritsky.
Shamritsky’s passion for the sport is rooted in a fundamental attraction to the structure of cycling. While not a traditional team sport in the sense that it doesn’t use direct teamwork to achieve a goal, cycling is not a purely individual sport. Shamritsky and his teammates share a bond that is unique to cycling.
“I like how it’s kind of a team sport but it’s also very individual,” said Shamritsky. “You ride as a team but you’re trying to do the best on your own. The part that I like most is you have complete control of your destiny. Obviously, if you don’t do well, you have nobody but yourself to blame. But if you do do well, you know that it was your effort that you put in. Even if you don’t do well, you feel very affirmed.”
Shamritsky believes strongly in the mentality of reaping what one sows. Accordingly, he hopes his tireless offseason training will enable his success this coming season.
Wang said, “He just makes sure were all prepared. David’s more of the leader on the road. He has a really consistent cadence speed throughout all of his rides. He always puts in a lot of consistent effort in general, which will be very beneficial during races.”
Isaac Newell ’18 said, “He’s put in a lot of hard work since last season and he’s trained really hard. I think that’s going to pay off this season. He’s good all around.”
One of the most important aspects of even a quasi-team sport such as cycling is positive team chemistry, which has flourished under Shamritsky’s leadership.
“We develop a good bond. We get to know everybody on the team,” said Shamritsky. “It’s a team event, but you may only have two or three people in each group. But at the end of the day, you get back and you’re a team.”
