Vanderkitten-Focus Women’s Cycling Team to Lead the Peloton in 2011

(February 07, 2011; Carlsbad, CA) FOCUS Bicycles USA will further its commitment to world-class bicycle racing through co-title sponsorship of the Vanderkitten-Focus Women’s Cycling Team.  Vanderkitten-Focus represents an exciting new era of growth in women’s racing, with focus on athletics, results and marketing, blended with distinctive feminine style.  Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the team will compete across the United States and in select international venues.

Vanderkitten-Focus will ride the featherlight FOCUS Izalco Team frameset, which features the best of German design and engineering.  The Izalco Team is highlighted by ultra-light carbon construction, Liquid Shape Force Flow Design, elbowed comfort seat stays, internally routed cables, BB30 oversized bottom bracket and matching 3T Rigida Pro fork. This is the same frameset to be ridden by the ProTour Team Katusha in 2011.

Vanderkitten–Focus will be outfitted in custom-sized clothing manufactured in the USA by JL Velo for Vanderkitten. Team clothing (also available to consumers) will be made from recycled, environmentally minded or locally sourced materials. All materials are carefully chosen to enhance athletic performance, while maintaining premium levels of style and elegance - a key feature of the Vanderkitten brand.

This will mark the 5^th year of operation for the bold and engaging Vanderkitten Racing program, which won back-to-back overall titles in the USA Criterium Series in 2008 and 2009. The team plans to further build upon its success at the 2010 Honda Insight International GP in Australia. In addition to its racing duties, Vanderkitten-Focus will support local FOCUS retailers through special promotions and appearances.

“Vanderkitten-Focus will promote and celebrate women athletes at the top of their game, and further drive the ‘By Pros, For Pros’ theme, which is the backbone of our business,” said Scott Rittschof, CEO of FOCUS Bicycles USA. “We are thrilled to welcome such a strong women’s team to our growing racing program.” 

The 2011 Vanderkitten–Focus roster will consist of:

• ·       Anna Lang (Washington, DC)
• ·       Emily Collins (Auckland, New Zealand)
• ·       Jasmin Hurikino (Brisbane, Australia)
• ·       Jennifer Reither (Scotts Valley, CA)
• ·       Jennifer Weinbrecht (San Diego, CA)
• ·       Maura Kinsella (St Louis, MO)
• ·       Starla Teddergreen (San Francisco, CA)
• ·       Vanessa Drigo (San Francisco, CA)
• ·       Technical Director- Jono Coulter (Brisbane, Australia)
• ·       Mechanic- Dan Hornadasch (San Francisco, CA)

“The Vanderkitten-Focus partnership represents a new era of support for women’s athletics in the USA,” said Dave Verrecchia, Founder/Designer of Vanderkitten, LLC. “FOCUS bicycles are the epitome of design, quality and function, and like Vanderkitten, represent the best in their field. In keeping with the Vanderkitten mission of empowering women through athletics, we are energized to pair top level athletes with premium quality clothing and bicycles.”