Smithfield HAMmerfest

Looks like that chocolate bunny that Ali won at Jeff Cup fueled her for a first place finish at the 1st ever Smithfield Hammerfest Crit. The word on the block has it that it was a technical and challenging course with a nice uphill climb to make it even more challenging. Although there were crashes in some of the races, the women came out unscathed. Attempts were made to break up the race but none of them really worked. At the end Ali rode off with the win with the help of teammate Laura. Great job to both of you for keeping our team on the map and also showing great team tactics.

One of our upcoming stars, Suszann, was also out there holding her own in the CAT 4 race making it look easy. We are proud that you are learning your way on a crit course and look for great things from you in the crits, road races and time trials ahead!

Happy Easter to everyone.

Jeff Cup 2010

Ali and Laura went up to Charlottesville for the Jefferson Cup Road Race on Sunday. It was cold. They were cold. They tried to warm up. They were still cold. They raced with about 30 women. They raced 40 miles. They tried to break-away. But the other women pulled them back in. It rained. It was wet. Then it stopped raining. Then it started raining again. They were still wet, but now wetter. It came down to a field sprint. Ali took 2nd overall and 1st for the Category 3 women (YEAH!) and came home with the coveted Jeff Cup and Chocolate Bunny! Laura took 3rd overall and 2nd for the Cat 1-2 women. After the race Ali and Laura were both very cold again. They finally warmed up after changing clothes. And then they ate pizza. And then they sang to the Rolling Stones and Violent Femmes all the way home to Virginia Beach. Laura found a four-leaf clover at the rest stop on the way home. Ali thought it was a fake. Check out the picture to see for yourself. And that was Ali and Laura's Jefferson Cup Road Race experience. The END.

Laura Cook Goes Pro!!

One of our own has been chosen to be a part of the Vanderkitten Pro Team in 2010! See the Press Release below.

Vanderkitten Announces 2010 Roster and Sponsors

Vanderkitten Presented by Kenda revealed the 2010 Road Team kit and sponsorship line-up today at http://vanderkittenracing.com/. “This season is about streamlining our program, building on our consecutive USA Crits Team Titles, supporting our National Championship winning athletes, and continuing to gain exposure for Women’s Cycling outside of the racing community” said David Verrecchia, Vanderkitten Creator.

“We will continue to build upon our long-term partnership with Kenda and Storck Bicycles, combining our resources to promote Women’s cycling by developing a program that will help launch cyclists to new levels” added Vanderkitten Managing Director, Mark Zefeldt.

Vanderkitten Racing also adds an “official” mountain bike squad of Barbara Howe and Shannon Holden focusing on endurance and multi-day stage races in the dirt. The MTB squad will also ride Kenda tires, Easton and SRAM just like the Road team, in addition to the impressive Ibis Mojo SL and Tranny Carbon frames.

“The Ibis relationship has been so easy and so supportive it was a natural evolution to take what we did in Cross, and apply it to Mountain for Vanderkitten” adds Barbara Howe of Vanderkitten.

Vanderkitten/Kenda’s Road sponsor list includes Vanderkitten Clothing, Kenda Tires, Storck Bicycles, Easton Components, Giro Helmets and accessories, Motortabs, SRAM, Tifosi eyewear, Relegate Coffee and the Hawley Company.

Vanderkitten’s Roster includes: Captain Jennifer Reither, Jennifer Wilson, Anna Lang, Starla Teddergreen, Erika Graves, Barbara Howe, Shannon Holden, Haley Beann and Laura Cook.

Vanderkitten Racing was established in 2007 to promote Women’s cycling and create a sustainable model of top-level athletic participation for women.

Anything But Dismal!

It’s hard to believe that just a year ago we fought wind, rain and cold temps at the 2009 DD Time Trial. It was so dismal lots of us found ourselves not even able to warm up because the tents were no shelter for the rain coming at us sidewise. Luckily for all of us, this year was a different story. After checking weather for the last week which at one time called for rain, we were pleasantly surprised to have the temps in the 50s, a bit of a headwind out, but no rain in sight. The only small distraction were a few dogs who had enough sense to stay out of the road. 25 ladies signed up in all categories and the beach Vanderkittens took 12 of those spots. Laura, Ali and BJ had the 3 fastest times of all the registered women.

Results for our team

CAT 1-2-3

1st – Laura – 1:02:44
2nd – Ali – 1:06:06

CAT 4

3rd –Karen – 1:15:17
4th – Roberta – 1:15:30
7th – Suszann – 1:22:46

Masters

1st – BJ – 1:06:43
4th – Claudia – 1:22:51
6th – Barb V. – 1:24:36
7th – Susan – 1:24:39
9th – Donna – 1:28:14
10th – Wendie – 1:29:13
11 – Christy – 1:29:25

Great job to the race promoters!

Snowball Crit #2

Another great day weather-wise for Snowball Crit #2 yesterday. Looked to be about 20 women who showed up for this one…most of the same riders from two weeks ago with at least two out of town girls making a road trip to participate in this last local training race. Some break attempts were made early on by Laura, Ali and a couple of others which provided some short lived division of the field but eventually everyone came back together. On a Cat 4 prime lap, one rider headed out without chase from anyone, took the prime and as it turned out, also took several more laps solo. She eventually got about a 17 second lead from the group so with about 8 laps to go, an effort was made to bridge up to her. It succeeded ultimately and a group of five at that time then began trying to hold the gap for the remainder of the race.

Cook sat in with the field & timed her move to bridge up to the lead group. Another rider followed on her own at some point thereafter bringing the total to seven women for the last 2 laps. Coming into the back stretch the sprint started right before the straightaway and a hard effort was given by everyone. In the end, Cook took 2nd and Ali came in 4th.

Team effort out there with racers and supporters!

Roberta, Ali, BJ & Laura

First BAR race of the year coming up next weekend: Dismal Dash Time Trial. Hope to have a lot of VK team members entered and racing against the clock!

Richmond International Raceway Criterium Race Report

Kudos to Team Nature's Path for securing the Richmond International Raceway for a crit this past Saturday. Very cool venue. Ali and Laura headed up to race in the women's open, with a field of 31 riders at the starting line. There was a brutal headwind on the backside of the track, and a nice tailwind coming into the finishing straight of the 3/4 mile track. Several break attempts were made, the one that finally stuck was a solo effort by Ali from the inside. With four or five laps to go the field didn't bring her back in and she came in solo for the WIN. Laura managed to take the field sprint for second place.

A couple of our competitors ran into some trouble and were involved in a crash. Heal fast, compadres!

First Race, First Place!

What a way to start off the season & a beautiful day as it turned out for the Snowball Crit #1. Field of eighteen showed that the local women are ready to get things going. Thanks to VBV and the Tradewinds founder who implemented a separate women’s open race this year.

Capn Cook, Suszann and I showed up to get outside (finally!) and test the legs. This was Suszann’s first race as a new member & she did a great job holding her own while having fun. Talking afterward it was clear that she’s excited about the season and we’re stoked to have her on board. First half of the race seemed pretty standard with a steady pace and the group staying together. Close to midway, there were a couple of break attempts but nothing stuck for long. I was up ahead with another racer in one of those breaks when a smaller group pulled away and started to close the gap. El Cap had been leading off the front most the time and at some point decided to split from them and make a clean bridge up to us. We rounded a couple of laps as three and then she turned on the burners again. Dropped us efficiently and finished the last 6 laps by herself! During that solo effort, the field caught up to the two of us which eventually led to a sprint for the line. Third place finish for me.

Lastly and appropriately so, another first took place yesterday as Capn Cook talked me into doing the Men 3/4 race. Have to say that I did enjoy the experience & think I found a new name for myself along the way.

No doubt this was the first of many great days of racing ahead! Nice job by all the promoters & racers!

Caboose Cat