Competitive cycling is booming in and around New York. Amateur racing has surged, with weekend events drawing crowded fields and a thriving club culture that has turned the sport into a serious pursuit for a growing number of city riders.

The scene spans criterium races through city parks to longer road events in the surrounding countryside. The fictional team Empire Cycling has become a fixture on the local circuit, its riders competing across the region and mentoring newcomers to the demanding sport.

The growth mirrors a broader embrace of cycling in the city, from commuting to fitness. For its most dedicated participants, though, racing offers something more: a punishing, exhilarating test that has quietly built one of New York's most passionate athletic communities.