This Wednesday, Andover All-Gender Cycling traveled to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for their second circuit race of the season. With powerful headwinds and a demanding course featuring a steep, sustained climb, the race pushed riders to rely on both individual strength and team collaboration. For many, it was a breakthrough performance, showing how far the team has come through training and race experience.
Despite the intensity of the conditions, the team delivered a performance marked by endurance and smart racing. Co-Captain David Porto ’26, who competed in the Boys B division, shared how he approached the race with a combination of strategy and grit.
“Despite some intense winds, our team managed to race really well. All of our athletes had to handle a big hill with some terrible wind, and seeing everyone not only be able to ride through these conditions but perform well was a highlight for sure. I raced smartly, and made sure to ride behind other racers during the hill as well as attack in the appropriate moments. For me, this was my best race yet of the season.” said Porto
Porto also highlighted the strong performances of teammates Jasjit Hargun ’27 and Eduardo Marrero ’28, who competed in the Boys C division.
“They finished the race very strongly, even if they did one extra lap by accident. They performed really well and worked well together,” said Porto.
Teammate Frank Hu ’26 echoed the sentiment, emphasizing how much tougher this course was compared to earlier races.
“We did pretty well. It was definitely the hardest course that we’ve been on so far, but everyone did pretty well. We helped each other out—a lot of team moments, a lot of tactics,” said Hu.
Hu described a key moment during the final lap, when he found himself in a tight battle for second place.
“I was hovering around second and third, and I was working together with a kid from Proctor to try and catch a kid from Exeter who was ahead of us. We were drafting each other, trying to lessen the wind resistance. But it became pretty clear to both of us that we weren’t going to catch him, so it turned into a race against each other for a second. He went early, I went later, and I wasn’t able to catch him, but that was definitely a key moment,” said Hu.
Sonya Caro del Castillo ’26 reflected on the race from the Girls division, noting how each rider responded to the course’s challenges with determination and support for one another.
“The course was brutal—super hilly and windy—but everyone pushed through and gave it their all. You could really see how much people have improved, and there was a lot of support and energy from the whole team,” said Caro del Castillo.
Cardo del Castillo pointed to the steep climb as a difficult and the most defining section of the race, pointing out that the uphill section split up people during the race.
“It was steep and long, just a wall that didn’t let up. After the steep part, there was still a gradual incline and then a turn straight into a headwind, so it just kept hitting you. That section really separated people and defined the rhythm of the race for me,” said Caro del Castillo.
Newer members of the team also rose to the occasion. Rachel Levitzky ’28, who is in her first season of racing, found encouragement and growth through the experience.
“The team is doing pretty well,” said Levitzky. “A highlight for me was definitely getting to cheer on my teammates.” She also reflected on the difficulty of the climb and how recent training has helped build confidence and fitness. “We’ve been doing a lot of work with the trainers, and it has increased our fitness and our ability to endure certain paces,” said Levitzky.
While sidelined from racing this week due to illness, Alberto Agudo Dieguez ’25 gave insight into the team’s training structure and the mindset behind their preparation.
“Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are hard days. Wednesdays are hard because we race, and Monday and Friday we typically either do a hard session on the rollers or go out and do a bit of endurance on the road. Tuesdays and Thursdays are recovery days. Thursdays we don’t train, but on Tuesdays we usually go out at a really moderate pace. It’s really enjoyable,” said Agudo Dieguez.
All-Gender Cycling will travel to another Circuit Race next Wednesday
