VK puts Tiff and Liza in the top 10 for Cronulla

You could not ask for a more perfect day to race at the beach. Sunny and warm with a strong on shore wind to keep people just cool enough to enjoy spectating. The course suited the kittens. It had drag race straight a ways, with a u-ball at one end and a P at the other with a bitch in it that hurt the legs every lap.

VK put down the gauntlet from the gun, with Emily launching an attack around the U-ball and driving it up the hill. From them on it was game on for all teams. The Honda Dreamers where going to have to work to win this one. It was pretty much the Vestal Virgins and the Kittens taking out a cat fight on Honda.

I launched some awesome attacks, which of course Honda brought back. Then Emily countered, Honda reeled in, then a Virgin, then a Starla, Liza, Tiff and so on. It was SICK (as our teammy Jazz would say).
We defiantly put the hurt on the entire race. In the sprint Liza and Tiff were able to hang in there for a top 10 finish with, Me, Em and Star, holding on to the end of the finishing pack for 12-15.
As far as the rest of the day goes it was goes it was all about letting the hair down. We hit Cronulla Beach, swam in the waves…IN DECEMBER!.... Had 4 cappucinos, 2 lattes, and a shopping spree. Yippie! Now I must bid my fans adue as we need to shower and perty ourselves up for an evening of….. well…. Whatever it might bring.

GAME ON Kiwis!

VK rocks it in Coogee

Coogee was awesome, a tough 918 meters hot dog course with a up hill finish for 22 laps. It was really a great day of racing for Vanderkitten. We all were aggressive and saw the front on the peleton several times. We launched several aggressive attacks that were countered by Virgin Blue or brought back by the Honda Dream Team. with 12 laps to go a small pack of 8 got about 5 meters off the front and Tiffany launched to it. By the time the peleton saw the U-ball the pack of 8 had about 15 meters. I sprinted to the front and sat up, trying to give Tiff and the break a bit of a lead. A few more VKs monitored the front and in about 4 laps the pack of 8 had 25 seconds. The break (1 VK, 1 Honda, 2 Virgin, 4 Oz indies) stayed off the front till the finish. Tiff, finished 6th. We are all exctied for Tiff and VK. The media coverage was awesome in front of cheering crowds.

We hung out and watched the mens race and headed over the "The Aquarium" which is a huge beach bar and restaurant. We hung with friends and took a dip in the Ocean. The New Zealander celebrated Starla's birthday today by tossing her in the ocean. I posted photo on VK FB page.

We have finally arrived where we started, at the Abcott Inn, where will be for the rest of the weekend. The final stage is in Cronulla, stage time, 12:10.

Vanderkitten get a call out! - Gosford Day 3

After a restful day we headed to Gosford for an evening crit. On the start line I was interviewed by the race announcer, Mike Tomalres, and tuned up the crowd letting them know that we were going to SMASH IT! And that we were here to play.
And play we did, we launched several attacks. I was so impressed with Emily, Starla and Jazzies attacks. They were really aggressive and had so much potential to be a break but Honda Dream Team was having none of that and chased us down and would not work with us when we were in a break together.
The course was 818 meter and 23 laps. It was a hot dog course that was full throttle on the straights a ways, a fist full of breaks around the corners and standing start sprints out of the corners, so you can imagine how much fun it was being at the end of slinky all night.
The end sprint was a bit hectic sending a Russian Team member to the hospital and disqualifying winner and series leader Rochelle Gilmore for moving a meter in the sprint. Liza Placed 5th and Tiffany placed 7th.
We finished up the race at 8:40 and made for a Chinese Fire drill making our way back to the hotel that was 6 miles away. Liza called the local Thai food place that delivered until 9:30p.m, I handed out lights so we could be slightly seen on the ride home and we all got single file for the adventure that was about to begin. Who’da thought that we would be heckled the entire ride home. People were absolutely shocked to see 6 women riding home in the dark. One boy even yelled out “You should get off the bike and ride me”. Little to say that the road between Gosford and Terrigal is very popular on a Friday night.

No rest for the weary, we have to load up the bikes, whenever it gets back from the race pack our luggage and also put it in the truck before we head to bed. We are out the door at 8:30 to head to Coogee for a 2:20pm start.

More tomorrow.

Paramatta Stage 2: Liza top 10?

Sorry for the late post. After the race we had a 2 hour transfer. We didn’t get out of the Paramatta until 8 pm and arrived at the Country Comfort hotel in Terrigal until after 10 p.m.
After a 3 hour transfer from Bathurst to Paramatta yesterday afternoon, VK arrived at the race course excited and ready to ROCK! As ready to ROCK it as we were mentally, the physical aspects of our off season legs came into play late night. Never mind the fact that is was 33 celcius, humid, stick and no breeze when we started racing, the course was a screaming descent with a big chain ring grinder uphill. The surges last night were kicking my ass. Round the corner, up the hill, round the corner up the hill, AGH!!! There were 30 laps last night; I sprinted 28 of them. Liza and Tiffany rode well at the front. They got a great start and maintained it. The Honda Dream Team maintained control of the front of the race for the night, but Tiffany and Jazzie managed to get the VK name out there a few times. We are not quite sure where Liza placed in the top 5-10 but will find out for sure tonight.

The day leading up to the race:
Tiff and I caravanned with the Auzzie Rider, Nicky (Bella Velo) and a few Kiwis, Slippery Sam and A-Ray. Tiff and I learned several key sayings while on our drive through the Blue Mountain Range. Some of them are:
U-Ball (U-Turn)
Crush it (Drilling it)
Going for a tap (going for a spin)
I totally rate that (that’s cool)
Go knock it up (mix it up in the race)
Fankles (Cankles)

We had lunch in Blackheath in the afternoon. We have ad such great food here. The Turkish bread is amazing along with all the veggies they include in the sammy.

We arrived in Paramatta around 3:30 and would not race until 6. We grabbed our wallets and headed into the city center for a proper coffee and some water. After, we rested in Paramatta Park and learned that the oldest building in Australia is in Paramatta and it was a dairy cottage.

Today we spent the morning eating and checking out the town of Terrigal. I posted some photos on the Vanderkitten FB page. This afternoon we are relaxing, blogging and other social media to keep our fans in the loop. Tonight we race at 7:50 under the lights.

Enjoy
Photo - Tiff and I, lunch in Blackheath

Vanderkitten’s Emily Kachorek, 5th in Bathurst

A very successful evening in Bathurst tonight, Emily 5th, Tiffany Pizzulo 7th and Starla Teddergreen 10th. There is so much to cover about our day today here are the quick details about the race. Field included the Vanderkitten Super team, Honda Dream team, Virgin Blue, AIS, NSW AIS, Russia, New Zealand and a handful of other small Aussie teams. The course was only 500 to 600 meters and we did 36 hot laps. Vanderkitten represented well with breaks and attacks. Me and Liza both initiated breaks that had potential but Honda Dream team shut everything that was a treat. In the end Emily made a move up the side at 2 laps to go and stayed in the hunt for 5th. We are chilling in out hotel tonight on the Bathurst race track before heading out to Paramatta tomorrow.

Today started off great with a small cup of gas station coffee and a bit of work on the internet. Tiffany hit to local farmers market and bought some fresh fruit, cheese, jam and bread walked back to the hotel and had breakfast out by the pool.

We loaded up and headed out to Bathurst at 9:30. The 3 hours drive North West of Sydney took us through the Blue Mountains. The views were spectacular. I posted some photos on facebook.

Upon arrive I had to ask. What the heck is in Bathurst. Well, there is a world famous race track that has been around for 80 years. The track is used for racing Ford and Holden cars. These two manufactures are competitive with each other and the racing in Bathurst is very popular in for Australia and New Zealand.

Our hotel in on the race course. It crazy I have posted on facebook photos of our 360 degree view from the front room. We have an apartment; 3 bedroom, 2 baths and an kitchen.

Gotta go. Tiffany (our resident Italian) just cooked up so pasta with chicken and fresh bread. It smells so yummy in out hotel room.

More tomorrow.

Tuesday December 7th in Australia

Wow, I'm here in Sydney Australia and it is amazing. Sunny and 80 greeted us at the airport and we have been on the move since we arrived. Airport pick up was at 7:40 a.m. By the time we cleared customs and immigration we were greeted by Johnathan Vandevelde (Yep, Christian's dad) and Cameron Bates (Son of Phil Bates, the promoter) who loaded us up in a van an took us to the hotel. No rest for the celeberties. We had a press conference at 10:30 and Chris Sutton (Team Sky) was meeting at the hotel to ride to the press confernce at 10 a.m. sharp. We had 65 min to get 5 girls, checked in, bikes built, showed and to the show.


No problem, this VK team is a well oiled machine. All of us were ready in 50 min and even had a moment to relax and have a cup of coffee before we headed out.

The press conference gave us a good idea on how BIG this event is and race promoter Phil Bates. The entire week will be highlighted on Channel 9 and the last 2 stages will be a live feed. The theme that Channel 9 in going with is It's ON. And it sure is. I found out today that Phil Bates is the man around these parts. He puts on several events in and around Sydney including events that raised 8 million dollars for a pancreatic cancer ward at the local hospital. Phil put The NSW series together in 8 weeks. Vanderkitten is proud to be chosen as the American team to come over and play in this 1st ever crit series.

From Press conference to ride time, we hit the road with Chris Sutton and Ed Clancey (British National Team for a ride down the 1. I am out of practice riding on the wrong side but we sure had a great ride.

After a shower and a change we went to a great patio restaurant called La Zona cafe (1/754 The Kingsway, Gymea NSW 2227) The food was refreshing! It is so great to have fresh summer fruit in December.

We spent the rest of the evening, reading, TV or working on social networking. We are all a big Jet lagged so plan on hitting the sack early tonight and getting a good nights sleep.

Tomorrow we have a 3 hour drive through the moutain to get to Race # 1 in Bathurst. We race at 6 so I may not be able to get a post up till Thursday morning. Check Vanderkitten facebook page for photos

Team includes: Starla Teddergreen, Lisa Rachetto, Emily Kachorek, Tiffany Pezzulo, Jazzy Hurikino and Me.