Vanderkitten-Focus Top Step at MoPro Dutchtown Classic

jennifer Reither led the Vanderkitten-Focus to their 11th win of the season by taking out the final leg of the Tour de Grove MOPRO Series in Missouri.
Here is Jenn’s Race report:
A weekend at MoPro St. Louis MO.

The kittens were in St. Louis this past weekend racing hard and successfully bringing home a WIN!

LOOP de LOOP

The Kittens opened up with a warm reception at Friday night’s Loop de Loop, making their presence known by launching attacks, contesting primes and ripping the legs off the field. The crowd went crazy cheering and screaming GO Vanderkitten! The litter attacks included a purrrrfect launch and time off the front from Ruth Widner. Jasmine “Jazzy” Hurikino, hit awesome counter attacks after Captain Kitten JennX was reeled back in by the pack on a few occasions. The fan’s passion and support paid off as the team delivered kitten Kate “Chilly” Chicott to a 3rd place finish.
1st Sam Schneider – Tibco
2nd Sarah Feder – Pepper Palace
3rd Kate Chilcott

The Grove
Saturday’s race in The Grove was another day of attacking and chasing. The pack was a bit more aggressive as this race was part of the National Criterium Calendar and the heavy hitters were out for sprint points and a prestigious win. Vanderkitten raced the windy 1.5 mile course as tactically as possible sending girls off the front and having other team’s reel them back in. The wind took a toll on team VK. Efforts being put in were taking the kick and zap out of each kitten’s legs. We did have the extra kitty power with Maura “MK Ultra” Kinsella joining us with Fresh legs, who chased down attacks and stayed close to sprinter Emily “Mooney” Collins along with her teammate Jazzy. On the last lap, Jazzy strung out the pack for the last 2 while Jr. Kitten, Ruth “1K” Widner took a nice flying and spent a few laps off the front. took teammate Emily “Mooney” Collins through the last corner for the 200 meter sprint, Emily took a chance to sprint the open lane to the right but it was Erica Allar who won from the left lane. Emily held on for 4th.
1st Erica Allar – Ride Clean
2nd Sam Schneider – Tibco
3rd Laura van Gilder – Mellow Mushroom
4th Emily Collins – Vanderkitten

Dutchtown Classic

Without a win on the books for the weekend, Sunday’s race in Dutchtown was the last opportunity for VK to bring it home for the team. The plan stays the same… RACE the hell out of your bike. Whoever wins this race will have to put in a lot of work to do so. From the gun “MK Ultra” launches an attack, using her mad TT skill stays away for 10 minutes. Once reeled in “Chilly” hurts that pack on the climb, and then Jazzy launches with another rider on her wheel and stays away till 4 to go. When Jazzy is reeled in I launch a vicious attack getting a 11 second gap quickly, all the while, “1K Widner” and the rest of the kittens are protecting “Mooney” near the front of the pack. Quick side note, while Jazzy was off the front, Ruth railed a corner, flatted, skipped her bike across the pack and STAYED UPRIGHT!!! Mad skills, glad I saw it; no one would have believed her. From here on out the details get a bit vague as I was lacking oxygen, seeing stars and bottles Michelob Ultra (Title sponsor banners). I think people were telling me I had a gap of 20 seconds at 2 to go, but all I could hear was my mind saying, “Frack!! 2 more laps, Mooney better be ready when I get caught”. I think to myself to push just a bit harder to make them chase me and wear out the other sprinters legs. So put it to them I do and never look back. I then had the finish line in sight, thinking that the pack was on my heels I gave it every effort I could to get across the line, and I did, so exhausted that I couldn’t even fist pump my victory. I did finally looked back and wondered where the rest of the pack was, a spectator told me I had a 27 second gap, I was shocked.
The plan came together and the Vanderkittens did it as a team. This win meant so much to me, because it meant so much to all of us, Emily, Jazzy, Kate, Maura, Ruth, Bridie, Courtney, Starla, Vanessa, Jono, Dave and the Fans to celebrate another victory for Vanderkitten.
1st Jennifer Reither – Vanderkitten
2nd Sarah Feder – Pepper Palace
3rd Laura Van Gilder – Mellow Mushroom

Enjoy the photos,

Enjoy the Ride
Captain JennX Fairy Princess

For more pics and story, click JennBonics Blog

Yesterday, Aussie powerhouse Bridie O’Donnell rode a fast race at the Amgen Tour of California Womens Invitational TT. The 2009 Australian TT Champion clocked a 44:34 over the windswept 29km course that the Pro men contested directly afterwards. Report and more pics to come!

Bridie ODonnell and the lonely roads, with only thousands of cheering fans to keep her company…

Bridie O’Donnell

3 Time Oceania Champion and 2009 Australian Open Pro Time Trial Champ Bridie O’Donnell has been announced as one of the ten elite women to contest the 2nd annual Amgen Tour of California Women’s TT presented by SRAM.
The event, run in conjunction with the Mens Stage 5 of the Amgen Tour of California in Bakersfield, is set to once again showcase the very top female Time Triallists in the world, with 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Winner Kristin Armstrong (USA) recieving top billing against esteemed company including Sweden’s Emilia Fahlin (Specialized Lululemon) and USA’s Alison Powers (Now and Novartis for MS).

For Vanderkitten-Focus, the invite represents an important milestone in the development of the squad as a top tier team.

According to Vaderkitten-Focus Sports Director Jono Coulter: “Vanderkitten has always strived to empower women through athletics, and we are thrilled that AEG and Medallist have once again created an event in which the worlds best female cyclists are showcased alongside the best male riders in the world at their event.  Vanderkitten owner Dave Verrecchia has consistently built upon the success of the program every year, and we were thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium in 2008, where the kitties were among the crowd favourites! Over successive years we have built an International squad capable of competing on the world stage and now, with the inclusion of Bridie, have one of the worlds top Time Triallists on our team. To have Bridie rocking the Vanderkitten-Focus kit in one of the most prestigious specialty women’s events in the USA. We could not be more happy”.

Bridie will race a 2012 Focus Izalco Chrono 1.0 at the event, with Kask K.31 Chrono Helmet giving her an aero advantage over the 29km slightly rolling course.

LOOKOUT!!

Vanderkitten-Focus squad at Cats Hill Classic

Jazzy was one of the favourites heading into the prestigous event, having won the 2010 edition of the famed hilly criterium as a 19 year old.

With Katheryn Curi Mattis Directing and on form Vanderkitten-Focus team behind her, however, Jazzy was unstoppable.

Emily Collins all smiles after a strong start to the season. Pic by Rob Evans

From lap two Hurikino and Kiwi teammie Emily Collins broke away from the pack over the famed 19% power climb, and when a Stevens Pactimo rider, Marley Smith bridged on the downhill, VK’s Kate Chilcott also came across. This made it 3 VK riders in a 4 rider break!

Jazzy, Emily and Kate driving the break. Pic by Wil Matthews for Focus

The bunch would not give in easily however, and over multiple ascents of the brutal climb, the peloton slowly reeled the breakaway to within launching distance.

With 5 to go it was gruppo compatto so without hesitation VK team captain Jenn Reither launched a solid attack and cleared the field, gaining 12 seconds immediately with only 4 laps to go.

The chase behind was furious and with 2 to go Jenn X was brought back into the field. no sooner had she come back that it was 3 time Oceania champion Bridie O’Donnell that made a bid for the line. The proven 2009 Time Trial Champion of Australia established a huge gap and the field was reduced to a selection of only the best as
they worked to contain the damage.

With half a lap to go, the last time up the climb Bridie was caught and this time Jazzy made her move. Within 300 metres she had formed a 100 metre gap to the field and put her head down with only half a mile of downhill to the finish line.

To the joy of the assembled crowd and sponsors, as well as Jazzy’s parents who had stepped off an international flight from Australia and made their way straight to the race, crossed the line and threw her hands in the air with exhausted jubilation.

Jazzy wins Cats Hill- sequence by Rob Evans. You can see Jazzy’s mom and Director Katheryn Curi Mattis cheering!

Only 2 seconds later her friend and teammate Emily Collins crossed the line punching her fists, with another Aussie, SportVelo’s Bec Werner in 3rd.

Jazzy 1st, Emily collins 2nd, Bec Werner 3rd. 2 Aussies and a Kiwi on a California podium

A momentous day for the Vanderkitten-Focus program and all is looking good for the next 2 months of competition that will see racing across the USA and UCI events in Canada and Philadelphia.

VK4LIFE!

Earlier in the month Vanderkitten-Focus had notched some top performances at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, with Emily Collins 3rd on Stage 1 and Emily and Kate recording top ten finishes in the final Circuit Race.

Emily Collins 3rd to Alison Powers and Loren Rowney at Sea Otter Criterium

visiting nuun at Sea Otter Classic

Image by Chris See

Jelly Belly hosted Vanderkitten-Focus on the Team Bus each day of Redlands Classic... lucky + fun!!!!

The 2012 Redlands Cycling Classic lived up to its hype as a spectacular kickoff to the Women’s NRC season. Vanderkitten-Focus sent a strong squad of 8 athletes, and although bad luck hit the team early on in the tour, our resilient kitties carried on in brave fashion representing VK in style!

Vanderkitten Focus- Calm Before the hurricane!

The Vanderkitten-Focus 2012 campaign begins in earnest tomorrow morning with the Prologue of the Redlands Cycling Classic in California, USA.
The worlds best Women Cyclists have assembled in the delightful town East of LA for what will be the first true test of the 2012 Road Cycling Season.
Vanderkitten-Focus has assembled our best squad yet, with 6 athletes coming off a tough edition of San Dimas Stage Race in which Emily Collins, Kate Chilcott and Ruth Winder all recorded top ten finishes. With young hardwoman Jazzy Hurikino in lead out duties, the experience of Connecticut’s Kathleen Billington and the never say die attitude of Courntey Van Dimpel the team will try to build on its performances at San Dimas beginning with the 3.1 Mile Uphill prologue that finishes at the top of Sunset Drive, Redlands.

Notably, the team will be joined by team Captain Jenn Reither, competing in her 12th Redlands, while Bridie O’Donnell arrived today at Los Angeles International after flying in from Australia. Bridie is a multi time Oceania Champion and the 2009 Australian Road Cycling Time Trial Champion. Redlands Classic will be her first race with Vanderkitten Focus, and she is keen to test her legs after scoring 3rd in the Oceania ChampionshipsTT in New Zealand this past week.

Bridie O'Donnell flew Sydney Australia to Los Angeles, USA, dropped in at Starbucks, collected her kit from JLVelo in Santa Ana and then test rode her 2012 FOCUS Izalco Pro 1.0 on the Redlands Prologue Course. Bridie. Is. Invincible.

Just CANT WAIT to get it started in here. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up to date pics, info and results!

Images by JasonPerry Photo and Vanderkitten Athletics

Mmmm... the sweet taste of Cherry Pie!! (c) JasonPerryPhoto

Vanderkitten-Focus has had its winningest ever start to the season, with Kathleen Billington winning both stages and the Overall Classification in the Bahamas while Ruth Winder picked up the Cherry Pie Criterium trophy in Napa, California yesterday.

Cherry Pie is an important California season opening event, with the recent win list including names such as Tina Pic, Brooke Miller, Megan Guarnier and reigning Swiss National Champion Pascale Schneider.

Vanderkitten-Focus fielded a small squad led by captain Jenn X and including Maura Kinsella, Courtney Dimpel, Vanessa Drigo and Ruth Winder. They would be up against the likes of California teams Stevens Pactimo, Metromint, TIBCO II and Red Racing, whilst International Pro’s from Chirio Forno D’Asolo, Primal Map My Ride, Exergy, Optum Health and NOW-Novartis put some spice in the field.

Maura Kinsella HAWT in her new Smith Pivlock V90s and KASK Vertigo (c)JasonPerryPhoto

Lucky for the VK gals, each rider was on their 2012 Izalco Pro 1.0 Team Issue steed- a bike Courtney Van Dizzle says is “SoFast”.

VK-Focus quickly asserted their authority on the 6 lap, twisty and undulating Crit Circuit in Napa Valley, being active in the front early on as rider after rider tried to break clear from the peloton.

The most dangerous California riders early in the year look to be Emily Kachorek and Liza Rachetto from Primal, along with Pascale Schnider (Exergy) and Olivia Dillon (NOW-Novartis). Luckily the VK’s were able to use their skills to patrol the front and negate any dangerous moves, while Captain Jenn X kept throwing bombs down the road for priem points.

With 8 laps to go Ruth launched a huge attack that saw her gain up to 11 seconds on the charging field, as rider after rider attempted to bridge the gap in the challenging crosswinds. With 4 laps to go Heather Nielsen from Touchstone managed to bridge, but soon after that Ruth was re-absorped into the field.

Sensing a need to change tactics, JennX again attempted to go off the front, but her efforts were negated by the field who could sense the win and smell the Cherry Pie.

ONE LAP TO GO and Courtney is DRILLING IT! (c) JasonPerryPhoto

With a lap to go Courtney van Dizzle, an ever faithful domestique, led the field over the finish line and strung out the bunch. Courtney rounded the U-turn in first and charged down the back straight putting pressure on all the teams. under the 1km to go and Maura Kinsella took over with Ruth steady on her wheel. Maura stomped through the final straight into the last chicane, and then dropped off Ruth with 150 metres from the line. With Swiss National Champ Pascal Schnider on her wheel, Ruth had to kick with everything she had and more, and in the drag to the line managed to even distance 2nd and 3rd place on the podium to throw her hands in the air in front of a jubilant crowd, family and friends. What a win!!!

Ruth outkicks her rivals in the sprint. Pic by Jason Perry Photo

Put your hands in the air for VK-Focus!! (c) JasonPerryPhoto

Big Step for lil' Ruth (c) JasonPerryPhoto

The weekend previous our East Coast USA based Kathleen Billington made a trip out of the Connecticut winter to the sunny Bahamas for the Holowesko Partners Tour of the Bahamas. Kathleen showed her prowess in the small but strong field, winning two stages and the Overall general Classification to show that she is ready to build upon her 4th place at the USA Cycling National Championships in 2011. This kitty aint done yet!

Kathleen Billington #1 at Tour of the Bahamas

Look forward to news soon relating to the March1-7 Vanderkitten-Focus team camp in Los Altos and Scotts Valley, California, including a VIP Team Launch Party!

Emily Collins is going to the BONFIRE! Image by OTB Photography

Chipper Kiwi Emily Collins had a breakthrough year in the USA in 2011, after placing highly and winning races in New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands. The New Zealand under 23 champion forged a solid reputation in her first season with Vanderkitten-Focus, and will return to the US in 2012 with renewed focus and determination. Behind the scenes Emily studies Business at Massey University and entertains her teammates with her witty, tongue in cheek banter. Here are the answers to her Q&A:

Name: Emily Collins

Hobbies: Biking, tennis, beaching, running, fun with friends and fam

Non Cycling action/ adventure/ fitness story or memory: When I was 14 I won the Auckland Junior singles tennis champs. I was pretty stoked. Soon after, I gave up the racket for the bike

First Bike Race: My first Tour was the Junior  Novice Tour of Manuwatu. I had no idea how to race and when it came to the first KOM I was slightly confused why all these crazy little girls were sprinting up a hill! The next stage I was told by my coach to race up all the hills as fast as I could. I did !! The field wasn’t too happy

When did you first hear about Vanderkitten? When racing the NSW Crit series in Aussie. They were the ‘cool american gals’ that everyone loved.

 What does it mean to you to be a part of Vanderkitten?: Being on Vanderkitten is pretty awesome. I love the people, the team, the management and everyone involved. I love that even though when it comes to racing, it’s serious, there’s always an element of fun with VK. We are definitely a focused but relaxed team which is very cool.

It’s also great that Vanderkitten is highly focussed on women’s sport and leadership. I love repping the VK gear and having people comment on our badass kits! Women’s cycling is a huge growth sport and being part of VK is a great way to promote the sport and it’s many benefits!