Vanderkitten presented by KENDA to race NSW GP in Australia
Vanderkitten presented by KENDA has secured an invitation to the NSW GP beginning in Bathurst, New South Wales on Dec 8. This will mark the first time that Vanderkitten presented by KENDA, the 2008/09 USA Crits Series winners, will race outside the USA as a team.
US riders Starla Teddergreen (winner of the 2009 Davis 4th of July Criterium) and Jennifer Reither (2009 USA Cycling Madison Champion) will spearhead the team Down Under. They will be joined in Vanderkitten jerseys by Primal/Map My Ride Professionals Tiffany Pezzulo (2nd overall in the 2010 USA Crits Series), Liza Rachetto (a regular Jayco Bay Series rider and NRC stage winner) and breakout rider Emily Kachorek (winner of 7 NCNCA races in 2010). Making her maiden Vanderkitten presented by KENDA appearance will be young Australian talent Jasmin Hurikino, a 20 year old Queenslander who won the Cats Hill Classic and AT&T Butterfly Criterium in California this year, and is signed with Vanderkitten for 2011.
Vanderkitten founder Dave Verrecchia has a history of hiring antipodean riders and staff, most notably Jeff Hopkins as Director Sportif from 2007-2009, and now Jonathan Coulter from Pegasus Sports as the 2011 Technical Director. “Vanderkitten has steadily grown its global presence over the years, with Adventure racers and cyclocross riders in Europe and Asia, and a steady stream of road racing talent from Australia and New Zealand” explained Verrecchia “We are about empowering women through athletics and there is a fantastic opportunity for us to spread our message at the NSW GP Series”
Jono Coulter explains “Phil Bates has for many years run the highest quality televised cycling events in Australia. He really focuses on bringing the best international riders to the country, and now he is showcasing New South Wales on the world stage. Our previous Director “Hoppy” has such a great history as a NSW cycling icon, and it just made sense with our young Aussie riders coming through the squad next year to have a presence at the NSW GP. Our US riders ended their road season at Gateway Cup in Missouri in September, but they have been racing cyclocross and have the experience of winning tough, gritty US Criteriums. They will battle with teams like Honda Dream Team and Virgin Blue- RBS Morgans in every stage. Jazzy Hurikino is a determined youngster, she won three races in the US in 2010, she is coached by Ben Day, and she will be looking to animate the racing for Vanderkitten presented by KENDA”.
USA Cycling’s John VandeVelde, a two time Olympian, will manage the team operations at the NSW GP. Racing will start in Bathurst on December 8 and will visit Paramatta and Gosford before the televised weekend races at Coogee and Cronulla.
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